LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 23, 2001
TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB786 by Barrientos (Relating to the creation of an
unsolved crimes investigation team within the Department
of Public Safety of the State of Texas.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB786, As Introduced: negative impact of $(2,276,252) 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 $(1,138,126) *
* 2003 (1,138,126) *
* 2004 (1,082,776) *
* 2005 (1,082,776) *
* 2006 (1,082,776) *
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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 $(1,138,126) 11.0 *
* 2003 (1,138,126) 11.0 *
* 2004 (1,082,776) 11.0 *
* 2005 (1,082,776) 11.0 *
* 2006 (1,082,776) 11.0 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create the Unsolved Crimes Investigative Team (UCIT) under
the direction of the Chief of the Texas Rangers within the Department of
Public Safety (DPS).
The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
Methodology
DPS estimates that creation of a UCIT will require an additional 11
personnel. The positions sought by the DPS are: commander (1), assistant
commander (1), criminal profiler (1), ranger investigators (6),
administrative technicians (1), and a victim advocate (1). The
salaries for these new personnel are estimated to total $564,396 with
associated personnel benefits totaling $140,421 each fiscal year.
Annual operating expenses for the UCIT would include gasoline ($17,145),
consumables and postage ($6,875 phone ($28,788) and rent for a 4,400
square foot facility in Austin ($120,000) for a total cost of $172,808.
Additionally, DPS estimates costs related to equipment and other
operating expenses (utilities, supplies, toner cartridges) to total
$38,500. Finally, travel expenses for the UCIT are estimated by DPS to
cost $148,200 each fiscal year with training expenses accounting for an
additional $73,800 during each of the first two fiscal years dropping to
$18,450 in subsequent fiscal years.
The agency foresees the use of grant funding to provide for the capital
expenses.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 405 Texas Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff: JK, JC, DG, JN