LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 22, 2003

TO:	Honorable Leticia Van de Putte, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2400 by Noriega (Relating to military leave and military leave time accounts for certain municipal fire fighters and police officers.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Local Government Code to require a municipality that has a population of more than 10,000 and has adopted Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code to maintain military leave time accounts for the fire and police departments and to maintain a separate leave time account for each department. The affected municipalities would also be required to continue insurance coverage while an officer or fire fighter are serving active military duty. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take efect September 1, 2003.

Two of the cities that have adopted Chapter 143 responded to a request for information on the fiscal impact of the provisions of the bill. The City of Abilene indicated it does not have many applicable employees who have been called to active duty, but if they were to be called up, the costs would be insignificant. The City of Carrollton already has a system in place to protect reservists called to active duty.

Local Government Impact

The fiscal impact would vary by affected municipality depending on the number of peace officers and firefighters that are called to active military duty, the number of leave hours available through donations, and whether the municipality already has a similar system in place.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JK, WK, DLBa