LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 21, 2003

TO:	Honorable David Swinford, Chair, House Committee on Government Reform
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2933 by Flores (Relating to the transfer of the Commission on Human Rights to the Attorney General.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2933, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($192,215) 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	($404,186)
2005	$211,971
2006	$0
2007	$0
2008	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Probable Revenue (Loss) from FEDERAL FUNDS 555	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004	($404,186)	($526,800)	(13.0)
2005	$211,971	$0	(13.0)
2006	$0	$0	(13.0)
2007	$0	$0	(13.0)
2008	$0	$0	(13.0)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill amends sections 461.001, 461.003, 461.057, 461.058, 461.059 of the Government Code relating to the transfer of the Commission on Human Rights to the Attorney General.

Methodology

This analysis assumes the appropriation for fiscal years 2004-05 to the Texas Commission on Human Rights will be transferred to the Office of the Attorney General. The state of Texas would incur accrued vacation payments ($68,757), moving costs ($20,600), and the use of General Revenue Funds ($526,800) in lieu of federal funds related to required certification of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to conduct employment and housing and discrimination investigations for a total fiscal year 2004 impact of $616,157. The agency is currently located in a commercial building and the state could save approximately $211,971 each fiscal year for rent and utilities expenses by relocating to existing OAG facilities.

The Texas Commission on Human Rights (TCHR) estimated 2,851.5 hours of accrued vacation time (approximately $68,757) would be payable to the thirteen employees that would be laid off with passage of the bill.  The state of Texas could lose approximately $526,800 in federal funding due to certification requirements from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Currently, the agency receives $500 for every employment complaint resolved and $1,800 for every housing complaint resolved.  The agency estimated 600 employment cases at $500 ($300,000) and 126 housing cases at $1,800 ($226,800) would be non-reimbursable during the certification process.  General Revenue Funds would be required during the Office of the Attorney General's certification period while maintaining personnel on the payroll.

Technology

There would be a one-time $20,600 moving cost related to telecommunications, LAN cabling, and wiring of equipment at the Office of the Attorney General.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 344 Commission on Human Rights
LBB Staff:	JK, WP, GO, MS, BL