LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                                May 9, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Natural Resources
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB1628  by Deshotel (Relating to the transfer of certain
               state property from the Texas Department of Mental Health
               and Mental Retardation to Spindletop MHMR Services.), As
               Engrossed
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB1628, As Engrossed:  positive impact of $340,000 through the        *
*  biennium ending August 31, 2003.                                      *
*                                                                        *
*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
The bill would allow the conveyance of the Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) property and improvements from Beaumont
State Center to Spindletop MHMR Services in Jefferson County.  The
property would be conveyed with restrictions and a reversionary clause
such that if mental health and mental retardation services were not
provided for a contiguous period of 180 days, the property would revert
back to TDMHMR ownership.
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                             $170,000  *
          *       2003                              170,000  *
          *       2004                              170,000  *
          *       2005                              170,000  *
          *       2006                              170,000  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
***************************************************************************
*Fiscal    Probable Savings/(Cost) from    Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss)   *
* Year         General Revenue Fund       from Texas Capital Trust Fund   *
*                      0001                   Account/ GR-Dedicated       *
*                                                      0543               *
*  2002                          $170,000                    $(4,359,540) *
*  2003                           170,000                               0 *
*  2004                           170,000                               0 *
*  2005                           170,000                               0 *
*  2006                           170,000                               0 *
***************************************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would authorize the Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation (MHMR) to convey the land, buildings, and site improvements
of the former Beaumont State Center to Spindletop MHMR Services in
Jefferson County.  The conveyance would be made with restrictions and a
reversionary clause such that the facilities would continue to be used to
provide mental health and mental retardation services.  An October 2000
appraisal by the General Land Office showed the site and improvements to
be valued at $4,359,540.

The conveyance of this property could create a savings to General Revenue
of $170,000 per year, due to the state not having to provide funds for
major repair and renovation.  The bill could also cause a loss of
potential General Revenue, due to the fact that if the property were
sold  rather than conveyed, the state would earn the value of the
property and improvements totaling $4,359,540.
  
  
Methodology
  
The savings to General Revenue are estimated at $170,000 per year.  This
cost is 3 percent of the Year 2000 facility replacement value ($5.6
million).  The potential loss of revenue to the Capitol Trust Fund, a
General Revenue-Dedicated Account, is assumed to be equal to the
appraisal value of the property and improvements, totaling $4,359,540.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
There should be no fiscal impact to units of local government.
Spindletop's assumption of financial responsibility for future capital
improvements to the buildings and related facilities on the properties
would be offset by the savings it realizes from not having to pay rent
or debt service to obtain facilities in which to deliver services.  As
owner of the property, Spindletop would have access to funding and
financing sources for future capital improvements and construction on
the property, such as the Texas Council of MHMR Centers bond program,
that are not available to TDMHMR.
  
  
Source Agencies:   655   TX Dept. of Mental Health & Mental Retardation,
                   455   Railroad Commission of Texas, 305   General
                   Land Office
LBB Staff:         JK, CL, DB, KF, MB