LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 12, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Intergovernmental Relations
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1257  by Gallegos (Relating to creation of a benefit
               fund and making a supplemental one-time payment for
               certain peace officers and fire fighters disabled in the
               line of duty.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  SB1257, As Introduced:  negative impact of $(6,900,000) 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                         $(3,450,000)  *
          *       2003                          (3,450,000)  *
          *       2004                          (3,450,000)  *
          *       2005                          (3,450,000)  *
          *       2006                          (3,450,000)  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
         *****************************************************
         * Fiscal Year      Probable Savings/(Cost) from      *
         *                      General Revenue Fund          *
         *                              0001                  *
         *      2002                             $(3,450,000) *
         *      2003                              (3,450,000) *
         *      2004                              (3,450,000) *
         *      2005                              (3,450,000) *
         *      2006                              (3,450,000) *
         *****************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would create a benefit fund, the Peace Officer and Fire Fighter
Supplemental Payment Account, to provide a one-time disability payment
for certain peace officers and fire fighters.  The GR-Dedicated account
would consist of gifts, grants, and other statutory revenue.  A peace
officer or fire fighter would be eligible for a one-time payment of
$75,000 if the person sustained, in the performance of official duties,
an injury creating a total disability resulting in permanent incapacity
for work.  The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment if it
received a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Legislature.
Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
  
Methodology
  
It is assumed that the gifts and grants received by the account would not
be sufficient to pay the benefits and that an appropriation of general
revenue funds would be necessary.  There are an estimated 59,000 peace
officers and 38,000 fire fighters in the state who would be covered by
the provisions of the bill.  Based on the experience of one of the local
police pension funds in the state, it is estimated that an average of 46
peace officers and fire fighters would be totally disabled each year as
a result of injuries sustained in the performance of official duties.
At $75,000 per person, the cost is estimated at $3,450,000 each year.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   327   Employees Retirement System, 304   Comptroller
                   of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, DB, SC