LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 4, 2001 TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB313 by Zaffirini (Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Funeral Service Commission.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * SB313, As Introduced: an 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. * ************************************************************************** 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: ************************************************************************** *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 * ************************************************************************** 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, HD, RT