LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 18, 2005

TO:	Honorable Helen Giddings, Chair, House Committee on Business & Industry
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB511 by Hochberg (Relating to the processing of consumer rebates.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would set out a 60-day time period for payment of a consumer rebate over $10.  It also would require a company to either process incomplete rebate requests or notify the consumer of errors or missing paperwork and allow the consumer 30 days to correct and resubmit without penalty.

The proposed legislation may result in new complaints, investigations or cases by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Consumer Protection & Public Health Division; however, it is projected that this increase could be absorbed by current resources.  The OAG anticipates any legal work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed with current resources.

The Act would take effect on September 1, 2005. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General

LBB Staff:

JOB, MS, JRO