LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 7, 2003

TO:	Honorable David Swinford, Chair, House Committee on Government Reform
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB995 by Mercer (Relating to the protection of public employees who report a waste of funds from retaliation by a state or local governmental entity.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 554, which is also known as the "Texas Whistleblower Statute", of the Government Code to prohibit a state or local governmental entity from suspending or terminating the employment of a public employee who in good faith reports a waste of funds by the employing governmental entity or another public employee to an appropriate governmental official or entity. 

 

The Comptroller of Public Accounts indicated that it is not possible to estimate the number of new "whistleblower" cases this bill would generate and their fiscal impacts cannot be estimated.

 

This bill would take effect September 1, 2003.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:	304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:	JK, GO, RR