LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

Revision 1

March 20, 2003

TO:	Honorable Frank Corte, Chair, House Committee on Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB9 by Flores (Relating to homeland security.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code by requiring the Governor to develop a statewide homeland security strategy not later than September 1, 2004.  The bill would create the Critical Infrastructure Protection Council (CIPC) composed of representatives from 20 state agencies, to advise the Governor on the development and implementation of the plan.  The bill would require the appointment of representatives to the CIPC by December 1, 2003.  The bill would direct the Department of Public Safety to provide facilities and administrative support for the Texas Infrastructure Protection Communications Center.  The center’s duties would be prescribed by the Governor’s homeland security strategy.

 

All of the agencies affected by the bill, except the Department of Public Safety (DPS), indicate that the administrative provisions of the bill would not result in a significant fiscal impact.  DPS did not submit a fiscal cost estimate.  The bill does not mandate agencies to provide services outside of their current resources.  The ultimate costs of the bill would be determined by the requirements of the Governor’s homeland security strategy.          

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated to implement the bill.  Local governmental entities would incur minimal postage costs to mail letters informing the Office of the Governor of any actions taken to obtain homeland security funding from other sources.  Additionally, local entities would see some minimal costs to compile an annual report for the Office of the Governor detailing compliance with the state's homeland security strategy, but only if the entity received a grant from the Office.  Harris County reported that if it received a grant from the Office of the Governor, costs to them to compile an annual report would total approximately $5,000. (Costs to other local governmental entities to prepare the report would be proportional to the size of the entity and the size of the grant.)

 

Local entities would also spend personnel time lending assistance and cooperation to the Office of the Governor and other state and federal homeland security offices. 

 

School districts would need to determine an appropriate ceremony to commemorate Texas First Responders Day, but it is anticipated that the ceremonies would not have a significant fiscal impact on the cost of operating school districts.

Source Agencies:

301 Office Of The Governor, 302 Office Of The Attorney General, 305 General Land Office And Veterans' Land Board, 307 Secretary Of State, 313 Department Of Information Resources, 324 Department Of Human Services, 401 Adjutant General's Department, 455 Railroad Commission, 473 Public Utility Commission Of Texas, 477 Commission On State Emergency Communications, 501 Department Of Health, 551 Department Of Agriculture, 554 Animal Health Commission, 582 Commission On Environmental Quality, 601 Department Of Transportation, 696 Department Of Criminal Justice, 701 Central Education Agency, 802 Parks And Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JK, WK, GG, KG