LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
May 9, 2001
TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
State Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB3067 by Chisum (Relating to the continuation and
functions of the Texas Funeral Service Commission.),
Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB3067, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: positive impact *
* of $0 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. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $0 *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Probable Revenue Change in Number of *
* Year Savings/(Cost) from Gain/(Loss) from State Employees from *
* General Revenue Fund General Revenue Fund FY 2001 *
* 0001 0001 *
* 2002 $(370,975) $370,975 2.0 *
* 2003 (90,763) 90,763 2.0 *
* 2004 (90,763) 90,763 2.0 *
* 2005 (90,763) 90,763 2.0 *
* 2006 (90,763) 90,763 2.0 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Chapter 651 of the Occupations Code by increasing
the membership of the Texas Funeral Commission by one member, requiring
the agency register certain cemeteries and crematoria and expanding the
agency's inspection authority. The bill would also add the agency to the
Health Professions Council.
The bill would require the agency to contract for a two year period with
the Department of Information Services and the Office of Attorney General
to improve the compilation of statistics and information services,
ensure adequate legal interpretations of Chapter 651 of the Occupations
code and consultation on the agencies daily operations including
complaint, inspection and enforcement procedures. The bill would also
require the agency to report quarterly on the status of its efforts to
improve is operations to a six member Task Force chaired by the
Comptroller's Office.
The bill would also extend the life of the Funeral Commission until
September 1, 2003.
Methodology
The agency estimates there are 7,000 cemeteries, 3,500 operators, 227
perpetual care cemeteries and 51 crematories that would have to be
registered, renewed and investigated under the provisions of the bill.
The agency would phase in the registration of cemeteries and crematories
over a period of eleven months. The first four months will be dedicated
to establishing commission rules while the remaining seven months would
be dedicated to adding, training, and housing personnel, updating
technology, securing continuing education requirements and establishing
budgets.
The estimated the cost of contracting with the Department of information
Resources is $240,148 for the biennium and the Office of Attorney General
contract at $27,132 per year.
It is assumed the agency would adjust fees to offset any cost associated
with the implementation of the bill.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 451 Department of Banking, 344 Texas Commission
on Human Rights, 513 Texas Funeral Service
Commission, 313 Department of Information
Resources, 308 State Auditor's Office, 116
Sunset Advisory Commission, 364 Health Professions
Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General
LBB Staff: JK, RB, HD, RT