LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 10, 2001 TO: Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1203 by Brown, J. E. "Buster" (Relating to coastal area hazard reduction and recovery planning and operations.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * SB1203, As Introduced: negative impact of $(4,604,038) 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 $(2,720,340) * * 2003 (1,883,698) * * 2004 (1,883,698) * * 2005 (1,883,698) * * 2006 (1,936,538) * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: ************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Probable Change in Number of * * Year Savings/(Cost) from Savings/(Cost) from State Employees from * * General Revenue Fund State Highway Fund FY 2001 * * 0001 0006 * * 2002 $(2,720,340) $(3,888,235) 26.0 * * 2003 (1,883,698) 0 26.0 * * 2004 (1,883,698) 0 26.0 * * 2005 (1,883,698) 0 26.0 * * 2006 (1,936,538) 0 26.0 * ************************************************************************** Technology Impact The Emergency Management Service (EMS) of the Department of Public Safety estimates that implementing provisions of this bill would require the installation and maintenance of a T-1 Web line. The annual cost incurred with this line is estimated to be $267,998. Additionally, EMS would need to execute a contract for the establishment and maintenance of a Post-hazard Analysis and Coastal Awareness system. This system is estimated to cost $630,000 in fiscal year 2002, and $550,000 per fiscal year during 2003-2006. Fiscal Analysis The bill would require EMS to prepare a coastal hazard reduction and recovery annex to the State Emergency Management Plan. The annex must include provisions that address a) coastal hazard reduction and recovery, b) assistance to local government in the preparation of vulnerability assessments, c) processes for the integration of local assessments into a coastwide assessment, and d) processes to network coastal emergency operations centers into the state operations center. The bill would require EMS to implement the plan by March 1, 2002. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2001. Methodology EMS estimates that the implementation of this plan would require 26 additional personnel. These personnel would be necessary for field operations to assist local governments in planning, training and exercising in preparation of coastal hazards. Additionally, several of these personnel would be involved in the central office to develop, implement and manage programs related to the annex. These programs would include a public awareness program and the hazard vulnerability assessment programs that are required by the bill. Salaries for these individuals are estimated to be $691,837 in fiscal year 2002 and $678,481 each fiscal year thereafter. Associated personnel benefits are estimated to be $195,652 in fiscal year 2002 and $191,874 each fiscal year thereafter. Computer hardware and software for the new personnel would cost $52,840 in fiscal year 2002 and then again in fiscal year 2006 when this equipment is replaced. Rent, operating expenses and travel expenses are estimated to cost $195,345 each fiscal year. There would be a one-time cost in fiscal year 2002 of $686,668 for the provision of pass-through grants to local government to purchase computer equipment to allow them to network with the EMS systems and among each other. Finally, there would be a cost of $897,998 in fiscal year 2002 and $817,998 from fiscal years 2003-06 related to the items mentioned in the technology impact section. The bill would require that instant hazard analyses and evacuation route information be provided for and implemented. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) estimates that the coastal hazard reduction and recovery program would cost $19,531 in equipment (video, power installations, wiring, and other items) for each of the 185 locations that would be covered by the plan for a total cost of $3,613,235 in fiscal year 2002. Software that could feed video capability and information to the EMS is estimated to cost $275,000 in fiscal year 2002. It is estimated that TXDOT could support the personnel needed for this program within its current appropriations and full-time equivalent cap. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 405 Texas Department of Public Safety, 301 Office of the Governor, 305 General Land Office, 601 Texas Department of Transportation LBB Staff: JK, CL, JN, DG, DW, ZS