LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 11, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Health
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB3602  by Capelo (Relating to the hazardous substances
               law; providing penalties.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB3602, As Introduced:  positive impact of $13,194 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                              $10,998  *
          *       2003                                2,196  *
          *       2004                                2,196  *
          *       2005                                2,196  *
          *       2006                                2,196  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
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*Fiscal   Probable (Cost) to    Probable Revenue    Change in Number of  *
* Year   General Revenue Fund    Gain to General    TDH Employees from   *
*                0001             Revenue Fund            FY 2001        *
*                                     0001                               *
*  2002              $(79,002)              $90,000                  1.1 *
*  2003               (87,804)               90,000                  1.5 *
*  2004               (87,804)               90,000                  1.5 *
*  2005               (87,804)               90,000                  1.5 *
*  2006               (87,804)               90,000                  1.5 *
**************************************************************************
  
Technology Impact
  
The bill would create first year technology costs of $4,500 for one
computer and printer.
  
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would amend Chapter 501 of the Health and Safety Code to grant
additional authority to the Texas Department of Health (TDH) and the
Board of Health (board) in regulating potentially hazardous consumer
products and other substances.

The bill would require annual registration for manufacturers, importers,
re-packagers, and distributors of certain hazardous substances
distributed in the state.   This fee would be set by the board and would
be designed to recover not more than the costs of administering,
monitoring compliance, enforcing, and conducting tests related to Chapter
501.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
  
Methodology
  
A three month implementation period is assumed.  It is assumed
approximately 600 additional manufacturers, importers, re-packagers, and
distributors of hazardous substances would be required to register with
TDH each year as a result of the bill.  According to TDH, the current
registration fee of $150 per business entity would be continued,
resulting in $90,000 in annual revenue.

Because TDH does not have the appropriate laboratory resources for
flammability testing, it is estimated approximately 40 product samples
would be tested at a private laboratory for an annual cost of $12,000 (40
x $300).  It is estimated TDH itself would perform tests for compliance
with hazard warning label requirements on 30 art materials products at a
cost of $100 each ($3000 annually).

TDH estimates an additional 1.1 FTEs would be required to implement the
additional administration, monitoring, and enforcement requirements of
the bill during FY 2002, increasing to 1.5 FTEs in subsequent years.
Other assumed administrative costs would include fringe benefits,
travel, rent, telephone, office supplies, and postage.  Total
administrative costs (excluding first year technology costs of $4,500
and laboratory testing expenses of $15,000 per year) would be $59,502
for FY 2002 and $72,804 in subsequent years.
  
  
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, HD, SW, KF, RM