LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 26, 2005

TO:
Honorable Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB925 by Chavez (Relating to creating an interagency work group on border issues. ), As Passed 2nd House



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB925, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($297,232) through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.

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
2006 ($148,616)
2007 ($148,616)
2008 ($148,616)
2009 ($148,616)
2010 ($148,616)




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2005
2006 ($148,616) 2.0
2007 ($148,616) 2.0
2008 ($148,616) 2.0
2009 ($148,616) 2.0
2010 ($148,616) 2.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code to create an interagency work group on border issues. The Water Development Board would be allowed to maintain and update an internet-based directory of border projects, also known as the Border Activity Tracker. State agencies would be required to update information submitted for the directory on an annual basis.

The bill would establish the Texas-Mexico Strategic Investment Commission. Many of the commission's functions that are stipulated in the bill are currently statutorily required duties of the border commerce coordinator.

 

The bill would require the Department of Public Safety to establish an Advisory Oversight Community Outreach Committee.

 

The bill would modify the powers and duties of the Border Commerce Coordinator, establish the Border Inspection, Trade, and Transportation Advisory Committee, and also establish a trade and commerce plan. The bill also would require the Border Commerce Coordinator to work with local entities and state universities to conduct annual conferences at no cost to the coordinator. This provision of the bill would take effect only if a specific appropriation for the implementation of the bill is provided in Senate Bill 1, Acts of the Seventy-ninth Legislature, Regular Session, 2005.

Methodology

Estimated costs are associated with the provisions of the bill related modification of the powers and duties of the Border Commerce Coordinator, establishment of the Border Inspection, Trade, and Transportation Advisory Committee, and establishment of a trade and commerce plan. The estimate includes costs associated with two additional full-time equivalent (FTE's) and travel costs to the Texas-Mexico border region as well as travel to Mexico and Washington, D.C.

 

It is anticipated that any other costs to implement the provisions of the bill could be absorbed by existing resources.


Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
307 Secretary of State, 357 Office of Rural Community Affairs, 455 Railroad Commission, 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, SD, NR, MS