LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 29, 2003

TO:	Honorable Jaime Capelo, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1538 by Chisum (Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Funeral Service Commission, including certain functions transferred to the commission from the Texas Department of Health, and the powers and duties of the Texas Finance Commission and the banking commissioner of Texas regarding cemeteries; providing administrative and civil penalties.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1538, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: an impact of $0 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	$0
2005	$0
2006	$0
2007	$0
2008	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Probable Revenue Gain from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004	($58,854)	$58,854	1.0
2005	($52,854)	$52,854	1.0
2006	($52,854)	$52,854	1.0
2007	($52,854)	$52,854	1.0
2008	($52,854)	$52,854	1.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would continue the Funeral Service Commission for 12 years.

The provisions of the bill would require the Funeral Service Commission to inspect and regulate cemeteries and crematories; set and collect fees for the issuance of an individual crematory operator's license and a license for each crematory and cemetery facility, with the exception of perpetual care cemeteries; and arrange for the administration of a crematory operator's license examination.

Methodology

The Funeral Service Commission assumed the agency's increased inspection responsibilities would require an additional Inspector II position at $34,854 per year (salary plus benefits) and additional annual travel costs of $18,000.

The agency estimated it could develop a crematory operator's professional examination at a cost of $3,000 in fiscal year 2004.

It is assumed the agency would adjust fees to offset any costs associated with the implementation of the bill.

Technology

The Funeral Service Commission assumed the agency would need $3,000 for the purchase of one laptop computer for the additional inspector.  This cost would cover all applicable software, licensing fees, and accessories.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	451 Department of Banking, 513 Funeral Service Commission
LBB Staff:	JK, EB, RT, TG