LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 17, 2003

TO:	Honorable Jim Keffer, Chair, House Committee on Economic Development
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB356 by Dutton (Relating to the right of an employee to time off from work to participate in certain school activities of the employee's child; providing a penalty.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB356, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($129,767) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

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
2004	($67,121)
2005	($62,646)
2006	($117,912)
2007	($113,437)
2008	($113,437)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable (Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004	($67,121)	1.0
2005	($62,646)	1.0
2006	($117,912)	2.0
2007	($113,437)	2.0
2008	($113,437)	2.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Labor Code by adding Chapter 83 to allow an employee to take up to two hours of paid leave per semester to meet with a child's teacher or to participate in a school activity of the child.  The Attorney General or a prosecuting attorney could sue to collect a civil penalty of up to $1,000 if an employer suspends or terminates an employee who follows the procedures outlined in the bill.

The bill would be effective September 1, 2003.

Methodology

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) estimates one Assistant Attorney General III would be required in 2004 and 2005 to handle additional legal workloads resulting from the bill.  In subsequent years, OAG estimates an additional Assistant Attorney General I would be required.  Associated administrative costs are also assumed.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	302 Office Of The Attorney General, 320 Texas Workforce Commission
LBB Staff:	JK, JRO, RT, JC