LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 2, 2003

TO:
Honorable Teel Bivins, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3125 by Truitt (Relating to certain programs provided by the Texas Commission for the Blind.), As Engrossed



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3125, As Engrossed: 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.



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




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
FEDERAL FUNDS
555
2004 ($369,484)
2005 ($369,484)
2006 ($369,484)
2007 ($369,484)
2008 ($369,484)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 91.027, Human Resources Code, to allow the use of voluntary donations collected through the Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment program (BEST) to provide transition services in the Vocational Rehabilitation program (VR). The bill would rename the program "Blindness Education, Screening, Treatment, and Transition Services."

The bill would allow the use of donations to the BEST program in the VR program. The bill does not specify what portion of donations must be used in each program.


Methodology

It is assumed that the agency would use $100,000 in BEST donations in the VR program in each year. These donations, which are General Revenue, would be used as matching funds for the federal Vocational Rehabilitation grant. The match rate is approximately $3.69 federal for every $1 state. For each year that $100,000 of BEST donations are used in the VR program, $369,484 in federal funds will be drawn down. It is assumed that there would be no net change in General Revenue expenditures.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
318 Commission for the Blind
LBB Staff:
JK, SD, EB, KF, LW