LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 17, 2005

TO:	Honorable Ray Allen, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB281 by Hope (Relating to the authority of certain counties to apply a county fire code to certain buildings.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Local Government Code to authorize certain counties to apply their fire code in an unincorporated area of the county to multifamily residential dwellings consisting of four or more units. The provisions of the bill would apply only to a dwelling on which construction begins on or after the date an applicable fire code is adopted. Construction would be considered begun on the date that ground is broken or that the first materials are added to the original property.

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives the required two-thirds vote in both houses; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005.

Counties would incur costs associated with inspections and code enforcement, although those costs are not anticipated to be significant.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, DLBa