LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
Revision 1
 
April 23, 2003

TO:
Honorable Jaime Capelo, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1560 by Coleman (Relating to a study of indoor molds conducted by the Texas Department of Health. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1560, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($20,000) 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.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 ($17,500)
2005 ($2,500)
2006 $0
2007 $0
2008 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2004 ($17,500)
2005 ($2,500)
2006 $0
2007 $0
2008 $0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to conduct a study of indoor mold to address: 1) types of mold that may be harmful to human health in indoor environments; and 2) mechanisms available to measure mold concentration levels, identify concentration levels associated with human health in indoor environments, identify correlations between exposure levels and negative health effects, identify human occupancy exposure ranges, recommend a system for removing toxic mold; and determine time frames for reevaluating “clean” sites.  An advisory committee may be appointed to assist TDH in conducting the study. The bill directs TDH to report the results of the study not later than December 1, 2004, to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. The act would take effect on September 1, 2003, and expires January 1, 2005.

Methodology

The Texas Department of Health (TDH) made the following assumptions:

1. The agency would develop a list of federal agencies and scientific and medical experts to consult; and would gather information from these entities through personal phone and email consultations. Travel may be necessary at a cost of $3,000 General Revenue for fiscal year 2004.

2. An advisory committee would be selected to assist TDH in conducting the required study.  There would be approximately six meetings of the committee in Austin prior to December 1, 2004. Committee members would not be reimbursed for travel to these meetings. There would be an estimated cost of $1,500 General Revenue for fiscal year 2004 for purchase and/or reproduction of reference materials needed for the study.

3. Due to the short time line for completing the required report (by December 1, 2004), and limited program staff, assistance will be needed to prepare the report, it is anticipated that a task force will be created and be able to prepare a rough draft for the department. 

 

4. The report would be published as a TDH publication, with printing costs estimated at $2,000 General Revenue for fiscal year 2005.  Postage costs for mailing of the publication to requestors is estimated at $500 General Revenue for fiscal year 2005.  The report would also be posted on the TDH website, thereby reducing the need for larger quantities of hard copies and resulting postage to distribute.

 

TDH indicated that similar studies have typically required approximately 600 hours of time from 3 FTEs classified such as a team consisting of an Environmental Specialist V and two Environmental Specialist IVs with a total estimated cost (including some travel and other operating costs) to the agency of approximately $20,000.

 

TDH indicated that the costs would normally be absorbed by the agency unless funding reductions or multiple assignments such as this limit the agency's ability to absorb the additional costs. Therefore, TDH assumes no fiscal significant impact associated with the implementation of the bill.


Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
501 Department of Health, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:
JK, KF, EB