LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 26, 2001 TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1362 by Goodman (Relating to the regulation of dangerous wild animals; providing for the imposition of civil penalties and the prosecution and punishment of certain related offenses.), As Engrossed ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would set up a new system of regulating dangerous wild animals. The bill would define an animal registration agency as the city or county animal control office or county sheriff in an area that does not have an animal control office. The bill would require a person to obtain a certificate of registration for dangerous wild animals and within 10 days of receiving a certificate, filing a copy of the certificate with the Texas Department of Health (TDH). TDH would be required to establish a procedure for filing a certificate of registration and would be required to charge a reasonable fee to recover the cost associated with processing the filing. The bill would also authorize each city and county to establish and charge reasonable fees to pay for the cost of administration and enforcement of the regulations. Fees could not exceed $50 per wild animal. Persons who do not obtain a certificate of registration would be liable for a civil penalty of not less than $200 and not more than $2,000 for each animal. Counties and cities could sue to collect the penalty, costs of investigation, and attorney fees. The bill would take effect September 1, 2001. However a person would not be required to obtain a certificate of registration for a dangerous wild animal before June 1, 2002. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 501 Texas Department of Health, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, RB, DB