LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 23, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
               State Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1458  by Duncan (Relating to the duties of state
               agencies and political subdivisions with regard to the
               development of, access to, and utilization of electronic
               information related to government services, programs,
               and functions.), As Introduced
  
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*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  SB1458, As Introduced:  positive impact of $202,533,228 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 Net Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                          $71,302,414  *
          *       2003                          131,230,814  *
          *       2004                          162,657,224  *
          *       2005                          192,041,224  *
          *       2006                          192,043,724  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
***************************************************************************
*Fiscal      Probable        Probable        Probable        Probable     *
* Year       Revenue      Savings/(Cost)  Savings/(Cost)  Savings/(Cost)  *
*          Gain/(Loss)     from General        from        from Federal   *
*          from General    Revenue Fund  Telecommunicat- Funds - Federal  *
*          Revenue Fund        0001            ions            0555       *
*              0001                       Infrastructure                  *
*                                              Fund                       *
*                                              0345                       *
*  2002      $123,256,000   $(51,953,586)   $(12,000,000)              $0 *
*  2003       175,936,000    (44,705,186)    (12,000,000)               0 *
*  2004       175,936,000    (13,278,776)    (12,000,000)               0 *
*  2005       175,936,000      16,105,224    (12,000,000)      37,125,000 *
*  2006       175,936,000      16,107,724    (12,000,000)      37,125,000 *
***************************************************************************
  
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*Fiscal    Probable Savings/(Cost) from     Change in Number of State     *
* Year    All General Revenue Dedicated       Employees from FY 2001      *
*                    Accounts                                             *
*  2002                                $0                            10.0 *
*  2003                                 0                            10.0 *
*  2004                                 0                            13.0 *
*  2005                        42,630,000                            13.0 *
*  2006                        42,630,000                            13.0 *
***************************************************************************
  
Technology Impact
  
Technology costs for the Department of Information Resources are as
follows:
*  FY 2002 $3,627,500 design, implementation, hardware, software,
personal computers,
*  FY 2003 $900,000 completion of design and implementation,
*  FY 2004 $573,500 hardware and software, personal computers,
*  FY 2005 $116,500 software license and support, personal computers,
*  FY 2006 $89,000 software license and support.

Technology costs for the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) would total
$2,522,000 for the 2002-03 biennium for 300 wireless modem-type devices,
the audit database, hardware and software costs, conversion costs,
license costs, and outside assistance.  This includes annual modem and
system maintenance costs totaling $303,250 would begin in FY 2003, and
two additional scanners would need to be purchased in both FY 2005 and
FY 2006.
  
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would implement AFM5 from the CPA's E-Texas report.  To enhance
the efficiency of audits and enforcement activities, the bill would
require the CPA to acquire and maintain wireless communication equipment,
and develop, implement and maintain an advanced audit database system.
(E-Texas: AFM5)


The bill would also fully or partially implement the following
recommendations from the CPA's E-Texas report:  EG1, EG3, EG4, EG5, EG6,
EG8, EG10, CG3, CG4, GP4, HRM2, HHS22, and ENR2.

The bill would require the Department of Information Resources to do the
following:
*  Develop and operate a One-stop Online service for new businesses in
the state.  (E-Texas: EG3)
*  Create an online system for listing state agency employment openings.
(E-Texas: HRM2)
*  Perform a comprehensive examination of the state's reporting
requirements and compile a list of recommendations for streamlining
reporting requirements on cities and counties.  (E-Texas: GP4)
*  Develop functional specifications and make preparations for a
statewide electronic data clearinghouse.  (E-Texas: EG5)
*  Assess opportunities for allowing people to electronically file
information that agencies require to be reported, and develop and
implement a plan to adopt electronic reporting in certain areas of state
government.  (E-Texas: ENR2, HHS22)
*  Administer a common electronic occupational licensing system using the
Internet.  (E-Texas: EG4)
*  Establish an electronic government Program Management Office (PMO) to
guide, promote and facilitate the implementation of selected electronic
government projects.  (E-Texas: EG1)
*  Create a seat management division to conduct a study and make
recommendations.  (E-Texas: CG3)
*  Identify opportunities for state agencies to coordinate with each
other on information resources technology projects.  (E-Texas: EG8)

The bill would also:
*  Make political subdivisions in the state eligible to receive
Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) grant funding, when
participating in TIF's Collaborative Community Networking Grant Program.
(E-Texas: EG10)
*  Require the PMO to establish the Texas Online grant program enabling
cities, counties and school districts to provide government services
through the Texas Online portal.  (E-Texas: EG6)
*  Require the PMO to assess the functionality of the electronic
procurement marketplace and electronic commerce network maintained by
the General Services Commission (GSC), and determine whether the systems
should be enhanced, replaced or accessed through the TexasOnline portal.
DIR would implement an electronic procurement system based on the
results of the assessment.  (E-Texas: CG4)
  
  
Methodology
  
Regarding the Comptroller's efficiency of audits and enforcement
activities:
* (AFM5)  In its estimate regarding efficiency of audits and enforcement
activities, the CPA assumes that it would use the new authority to
contract for audit resources sufficient to allow audit coverage of 1
percent of taxpayers. Administrative costs for the CPA would total
$24,369,000 for the 2002-03 biennium, including technology costs. The CPA
would incur costs of $1,243,000 for each year of the biennium to
contract for a Special Audit Unit, composed of the equivalent of 13
full-time auditors, and $9,392,000 for each year of the biennium for the
equivalent of 100 contract auditors.  An additional $288,000 in contract
assistance would be necessary each year of the biennium to support
implementation of the new technology. The projected increase in revenue
collections with full implementation is estimated at $123.3 million for
FY 2002, and $175.9 million in FY 2003 and thereafter.  The $24.4 million
cost to implement this program is included in the Senate version of
Senate Bill 1.  The Comptroller's office has indicated that it will
increase the 2002-03 revenue estimate by $199.2 million when this program
is implemented.


Regarding all other aspects of the bill:
*  (EG3)  According to DIR,  the cost for One -Stop Service would be
$500,000 for professional services:  $150,000 to study the existing
common permitting application and information required by the
licensing/regulation agencies that may require information for someone
starting a new business; and $350,000 for integration into the Texas
Online Portal and development of agency and online web forms.
*  (HRM2)  DIR estimates that creating an online system for listing state
agency employment openings would have a cost to General Revenue of
$1,000,000 in FY 2002, along with additional costs to hire a consultant
to review existing applications, develop a method of integration, and
integrate the existing state employment opening posting systems and DIR's
web portal.
*  (GP4)  According to the CPA's E-Texas report and DIR, compiling a list
of ways to streamline and reduce reporting requirements on cities and
counties would require DIR to employ one analyst, at a salary of $68,750,
including benefits, with a budget of $50,000.
*  (EG5)  The cost of development  and implementation of the data
clearinghouse is estimated to be $1,034,000.  The total does not include
the cost of staffing the data clearinghouse.  In addition to the analyst
added in FY 2002, this estimate assumes that the PMO would employ three
analysts beginning in FY 2004 at the same salary to work with local
governments and state and federal agencies to ensure the effective
transfer of information.  From FY 2005 on, software licenses and support
would cost an additional $89,000 per year.
*  (ENR2, HHS22)  DIR advises that it can perform the assessment
requirements of the electronic reporting with current staffing.  Any
costs for implementation of the program would be determined as a part of
the study.
*  (EG4)  DIR would contract with a private vendor to implement the
common licensing system using the Internet. The contractor will incur all
costs for development, implementation and operational costs for this
project.  All contractor costs will be recovered through appropriated
receipts (transaction fees and subscription fees). There are nine
regulatory agencies that do not own their own software and in order to
supply the automated licensing system to those nine agencies, there will
be anticipated costs for analysis, design and programming in the amount
of $18,400 per agency for a total of $165,600.
*  (EG1)  DIR estimates that the PMO would require $928,210 for
professional services in FY 2002 and $956,410 in FY 2003.  After FY 2003,
the funding should come from a percentage of each project budget.  In
addition, implementation would require an additional 6 FTEs estimated to
be $500,000, benefits included, annually.
*  (CG3)  DIR estimates that creating a seat management division would
cost $668,776 in FY 2002.
*  (EG8)  The Comptroller expects no fiscal impact from requiring DIR to
identify opportunities for state agencies to coordinate information
technology projects with each other
*  (EG10)  The bill would direct the Texas Infrastructure Fund (TIF) to
establish a goal of awarding political subdivisions funding of not less
than $12 million each year from the Qualifying Entities Account.  The
estimated fiscal impact assumes that $12 million would be set aside for
local governments' costs to participate in community networking annually
until the TIF expired.
*  (EG6)  Putting the activities of existing grant programs online would
cost $1,800,000 over two years.  It would also require one FTE at a cost
of approximately $70,000 a year, including benefits, and an additional
$5,000 a year for operating expenses. The FTE cost would increase in FY
2004 and again in FY 2006. There would be an additional $2,500 increase
in FY 2006 for computer upgrade.  The CPA estimates that implementation
of the TexasOnline Grant Program would cost $59,000,000 to General
Revenue (GR) for the FY 2002-03 biennium.  This funding would enable
approximately 700 cities, counties, and school districts in strategic
investment areas to provide selected government services online.
*  (CG4)  According to the CPA and DIR, the cost for implementing
electronic procurement would be $5.7 million in GR for the FY 2002-03
biennium.  In FY 2002, $1.7 million would be used to purchase critical
hardware and software for the electronic procurement system and $1
million for interfacing financial and accounting systems of the 20
largest state agencies.  The estimate assumes a need to contract for
professional services, costing $1.5 million in FY 2002 and FY 2003.
There would also be the need for one project manager at $70,000 per year,
benefits included.
According to the CPA and DIR, electronic procurement implementation
would result in savings by fiscal year 2005, as participation in the
system increased and purchases became more frequent.  It is estimated
that savings would accrue at a conservative rate of 2 percent of actual
1999 purchases by all state agencies.
Based on purchases of $1.429 billion, the state would generate GR
savings of $28.58 million per year.  Based on purchases of $1.86
billion, $37.13 million per year in federal funds would be saved.  Based
on purchases of $2.13 billion, $42.6 million per year in dedicated
accounts funds would be saved.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
There could be cost savings to local governments who use electronic
procurement. A savings on telecommunications costs would be realized for
those local governments participating in TIF's collaborative community
networking program.
  
  
Source Agencies:   592   State Soil & Water Conservation Board, 513
                   Texas Funeral Service Commission, 533   Executive
                   Council of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy
                   Examiners, 472   Texas Structural Pest Control
                   Board, 582   Texas Natural Resource Conservation
                   Commission, 313   Department of Information
                   Resources, 466   Office of Consumer Credit
                   Commissioner, 520   Board of Examiners of
                   Psychologists, 337   Board of Tax Professional
                   Examiners, 529   Health and Human Services
                   Commission, 329   Texas Real Estate Commission, 503
                   Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, 308   State
                   Auditor's Office, 329A    Texas Appraiser Licensing
                   and Certification Board, 515   Texas State Board of
                   Pharmacy, 514   Texas Optometry Board, 502   State
                   Board of Barber Examiners , 551   Texas Department
                   of Agriculture, 212   Office of Court
                   Administration, 578   Texas Board of Veterinary
                   Medical Examiners, 367   Telecommunications
                   Infrastructure Fund Board, 554   Texas Animal Health
                   Commission, 507   Board of Nurse Examiners, 511
                   Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners, 504   State
                   Board of Dental Examiners, 580   Texas Water
                   Development Board, 204   Court Reporters
                   Certification Board, 474   Texas Polygraph Examiners
                   Board, 802   Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
                   456   Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, 304
                   Comptroller of Public Accounts, 320   Texas
                   Workforce Commission, 505   Texas Cosmetology
                   Commission, 781   Texas Higher Education
                   Coordinating Board, 508   Texas Board of
                   Chiropractic Examiners, 303   General Services
                   Commission, 512   Texas State Board of Podiatric
                   Medical Examiners
LBB Staff:         JK, RB, SK