LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 8, 2001
TO: Honorable Steven Wolens, Chair, House Committee on State
Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB3154 by Capelo (Relating to the creation of the Texas
Asthma and Allergy Council.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB3154, As Introduced: negative impact of $(1,263,200) 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 $(281,533) *
* 2003 (981,667) *
* 2004 (975,667) *
* 2005 (975,667) *
* 2006 (975,667) *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2001 *
* 0001 *
* 2002 $(281,533) 4.0 *
* 2003 (981,667) 8.0 *
* 2004 (975,667) 8.0 *
* 2005 (975,667) 8.0 *
* 2006 (975,667) 8.0 *
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Technology Impact
8 Personal Computers, 1 Laser Printer and Software.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create the Texas Asthma and Allergy Council. The bill
would require the 17 member council to assist with the implementation of
the Texas Asthma Plan and the Texas Allergy Plan; monitor and assist in
revising the plans as necessary; create an asthma educator certification
process; create an allergy educator certification process; assess the
impact , including the financial impact, of asthma and allergies in
Texas; compile data related to asthma and allergies; provide expertise
related to indoor air quality; assist in smoking cessation programs;
assist public schools in dealing with children with asthma and children
with allergies; act as a repository for asthma and allergy projects;
support asthma and allergy research; and disseminate asthma and allergy
information. The bill would also allow members of the council to be
reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing
council duties and travel expenses incurred in attending the required
training program regardless of whether the attendance at the program
occurs before or after the person qualifies for office.
The bill would require the council to develop and implement policies that
separate the policy making responsibilities of the council and the
management responsibilities of the executive director and the staff of
the council.
Methodology
The bill refers to an executive director and staff. It is assumed that
the Texas Asthma and Allergy Council would be similar in size to an
existing state agency such as the Texas Cancer Council. It is assumed
that eight FTEs would be needed to administer and implement the
provisions of the bill. A six month start-up period is assumed and
therefore, it is assumed that expenditures in FY 2002 would include
$180,233 for salaries and benefits; $54,000 for operating cost; $12,800
for other operating cost; and $4,200 for travel expenses. It is assumed
that one time costs in FY 2002 would include $9,000 in professional fees
for a consultant to study and make recommendations regarding the allergy
educator and asthma educator certification processes; $19,300 in
equipment cost, including computers, a printer and software for executive
director and staff; and $2,000 for a systems consultant to set-up the
agency's office technology. For each fiscal year of FY 2003-06, it is
assumed that expenditures would include $360,467 for salaries and
benefits; $108,000 for operating costs and $7,200 for travel expenses. It
is assumed that other costs would include the printing and distribution
of the Texas Allergy Plan and the Texas Asthma Plan in FY 2003 for a
total of $6,000. It is assumed the plan would be revised in FY 2006,
resulting in $6,000 in printing and distribution costs in that fiscal
year.
It is assumed that $500,000 in each fiscal year of FY 2003-06 would be
expended in grants awards to support allergy and asthma research. It is
assumed that total expenditures for the FY 2002-03 biennium would be
$1,297,900. It is assumed that reimbursement of travel related expenses
for members of the Texas Asthma and Allergy Council would have to be
authorized by the General Appropriations Act. The bill would require
the Texas Education Agency, Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission and Texas Department of Health to have a representative on
the Council and to pay travel expenses for the employee who serves as a
council member. It is assumed that these state agencies would absorb the
travel expenses within their existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 582 Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission,
301 Office of the Governor, 501 Texas Department
of Health, 116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 701
Texas Education Agency
LBB Staff: JK, RB, KF, RM