LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                               May 26, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Bill Ratliff, Lieutenant Governor
               Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney, Speaker of the House
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB305  by Harris (Relating to the continuation and
               functions of the Parks and Wildlife Department.),
               Conference Committee Report
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would continue the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for an
additional twelve years and increase certain TPWD responsibilities.
Further, the bill includes additional responsibilities for the State
Auditor; increases oyster bed lease rates from $3 to $6 per acre, and
makes other changes in the oyster bed lease program; and prohibits TPWD
from accepting an advertisement that promotes the sale of tobacco in a
publication sponsored or published by the Department.

According to the State Auditor's Office, the provisions of the bill would
result in no significant increase in operating costs or staffing.

The $3 increase to the oyster bed lease rate should only generate an
additional $6,981 per year to Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9.


TPWD estimates that the prohibition on tobacco advertising would result
in a cost of $100,000.  However, any revenue loss due to the prohibition
on advertising that promotes the sale of tobacco is likely to be offset
by advertising promoting other products or services.

The bill allows TPWD to allocate at least 15 percent of bond funds
authorized by the Texas Constitution to park maintenance and improvement
projects for which matching private or local funds are available, and to
establish a program to identify and classify boat dealers and
manufacturers and to charge a fee for the program.  However no
additional costs or revenues are estimated to result from these
provisions, because both provisions are permissive.
  
Technology Impact
  
None.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   116   Sunset Advisory Commission, 304   Comptroller
                   of Public Accounts, 308   State Auditor's Office, 802
                   Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
LBB Staff:         JK, CL, ZS