LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 11, 2005

TO:	Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation, & Tourism
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB884 by Seaman (Relating to the creation of an oyster license management program.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to create a license management program for the commercial oyster fishery.  Issuance and renewal of commercial oyster licenses would be based on historical participation in the fishery.  The bill would also mandate the creation of an Oyster License Management Review Board to advise the Commission on administration and policies of the program.  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) indicates that additional workload associated with a new commercial oyster fishery license management system could be absorbed within existing resources.  Accordingly, passage of this bill would have no significant fiscal impact on TPWD. 

The bill would take effect immediately with a two-thirds vote of all members in each house; otherwise the bill would take effect September 1, 2005. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, ZS, TB