LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session Revision 1 April 4, 2001 TO: Honorable Bob Turner, Chair, House Committee on Public Safety FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1748 by Giddings (Relating to the creation of an unsolved crimes investigation team within the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * HB1748, As Introduced: negative impact of $(2,276,252) 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. * ************************************************************************** General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: **************************************************** * Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) * * Impact to General Revenue Related * * Funds * * 2002 $(1,138,126) * * 2003 (1,138,126) * * 2004 (1,082,776) * * 2005 (1,082,776) * * 2006 (1,082,776) * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State * * Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2001 * * 0001 * * 2002 $(1,138,126) 11.0 * * 2003 (1,138,126) 11.0 * * 2004 (1,082,776) 11.0 * * 2005 (1,082,776) 11.0 * * 2006 (1,082,776) 11.0 * *************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill would create the Unsolved Crimes Investigative Team (UCIT) under the direction of the Chief of the Texas Rangers within the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The bill would take effect September 1, 2001. Methodology DPS estimates that creation of a UCIT will require an additional 11 personnel. The positions sought by the DPS are: commander (1), assistant commander (1), criminal profiler (1), ranger investigators (6), administrative technicians (1), and a victim advocate (1). The salaries for these new personnel are estimated to total $564,396 with associated personnel benefits totaling $140,421 each fiscal year. Annual operating expenses for the UCIT would include gasoline ($17,145), consumables and postage ($6,875 phone ($28,788) and rent for a 4,400 square foot facility in Austin ($120,000) for a total cost of $172,808. Additionally, DPS estimates costs related to equipment and other operating expenses (utilities, supplies, toner cartridges) to total $38,500. Finally, travel expenses for the UCIT are estimated by DPS to cost $148,200 each fiscal year with training expenses accounting for an additional $73,800 during each of the first two fiscal years dropping to $18,450 in subsequent fiscal years. The agency foresees the use of grant funding to provide for the capital expenses. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 405 Texas Department of Public Safety LBB Staff: JK, JC, DG, JN