LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 17, 2005

TO:
Honorable Leticia Van de Putte, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1318 by Dawson (Relating to the state providing grave markers for certain members of the state military forces.), As Engrossed



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1318, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($510,000) 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 ($255,000)
2007 ($255,000)
2008 ($255,000)
2009 ($255,000)
2010 ($255,000)




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2006 ($255,000)
2007 ($255,000)
2008 ($255,000)
2009 ($255,000)
2010 ($255,000)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code to require the adjutant general to provide grave markers for decedents who served in the state military forces upon request of certain individuals. An individual eligible for a grave marker under federal law would be ineligible for a grave marker under the bill. The bill would apply only to decedents who died on or after September 1, 2005. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Methodology

This analysis assumes that eligibility for a grave marker under the bill is not dependent upon the decedent being in the military forces at the time of their death.

Soldiers retiring from the state military forces are eligible for a grave marker under federal law and would not qualify for a grave marker under the provisions of the bill. The Adjutant General's Department (AGD) reports that approximately 4,000 soldiers ineligible for retirement are discharged from the state military forces each year. According to the AGD, the annual discharge rate of 4,000 soldiers ineligible for retirement has remained relatively constant since 1985. Data indicating state military forces discharge rates before 1985 is not available.

The AGD reports that the average cost of a grave marker modeled after the markers provided by the federal government is $255. Assuming that the eligible member discharge rate of 4,000 soldiers is valid for the years before 1985 and that 25 percent of all eligible members would request a grave marker, the annual cost of the bill would be $255,000 (4,000 eligible members X 25 percent X $255 per grave marker).


Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
401 Adjutant General's Department
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, VDS, AM