LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 13, 2003

TO:
Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2237 by Kuempel (Relating to the financial assistance for the eligible survivor of a member of an organized volunteer fire-fighting unit.), As Engrossed



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2237, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($255,400) 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 ($251,800)
2005 ($3,600)
2006 ($255,400)
2007 ($7,200)
2008 ($259,000)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2004 ($251,800)
2005 ($3,600)
2006 ($255,400)
2007 ($7,200)
2008 ($259,000)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would allow volunteer fire-fighting units of not fewer than 10 active members to be eligible for public safety worker death benefits. Currently, the fire-fighting unit must have a minimum of 20 active members.

For each death, the following benefits are payable from the General Revenue Fund:
(1)a lump sum payment of $250,000 to an eligible surviving spouse, surviving children,
or surviving parent(s); and, (2)monthly payments of $200 for a surviving minor child, $300 for two surviving minor children, or $400 for three or more minor surviving children. The estimated average cost during the year of death would be $250,000 plus $1,800 ($300 x 6 months), for a total of $251,800, and the estimated average cost for subsequent years would be $3,600 ($300 x 12 months). 


Methodology

Assuming at least one additional death per biennium becomes eligible for the benefit as a result of this legislation, the additional cost to the Employees Retirement System is estimated to be $251,800 in the year of the death, and $3,600 per year in subsequent years. 


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
325 Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner, 327 Employees Retirement System, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 411 Commission on Fire Protection, 696 Department of Criminal Justice
LBB Staff:
JK, DLBa, WK, MS, ZS, KG