LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 28, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable David Sibley, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Business & Commerce
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB228  by Shapleigh (Relating to requiring the
               comptroller to study the state and federal mandates
               affecting the region of the state near the border with
               Mexico.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  SB228, As Introduced:  negative impact of $(750,000) 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.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                           $(750,000)  *
          *       2003                                    0  *
          *       2004                                    0  *
          *       2005                                    0  *
          *       2006                                    0  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
         *****************************************************
         * Fiscal Year      Probable Savings/(Cost) from      *
         *                      General Revenue Fund          *
         *                              0001                  *
         *      2002                               $(750,000) *
         *      2003                                        0 *
         *      2004                                        0 *
         *      2005                                        0 *
         *      2006                                        0 *
         *****************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
Senate Bill 228 would require the Comptroller to study the impact of
state and federal mandates affecting the region of the state near the
border with Mexico.  The study would have to include an examination of:
judicial and law enforcement issues, financial and environmental
policies, transportation infrastructure, and the effect of the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

No later than December 15, 2002, the Comptroller would have to file a
report of the results of the study with the Lieutenant Governor and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  
  
Methodology
  
The Comptroller's office estimates that $750,000 in General Revenue Funds
will be required for consultant services associated with the study. The
Comptroller's cost estimate is based on a number of factors including
past experience with studies of this scope and magnitude.  The
Comptroller's office anticipates that there are 7 or 8 major issue areas
that require outside expertise.  According the Comptroller's office, the
study will look at areas such as judicial and law enforcement issues,
financial and environmental policies, transportation infrastructure, and
the effects of NAFTA.  The Comptroller estimates each issue to have a
cost of between $50K and $100K.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, JO, JC