LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 11, 2005

TO:	Honorable Rick Hardcastle, Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2556 by Kuempel (Relating to a prohibition on the importation of Chronic Wasting Disease-susceptible species; providing a criminal penalty.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2556, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($292,362) 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.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2006	($150,481)
2007	($141,881)
2008	($141,881)
2009	($141,881)
2010	($141,881)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2005
2006	($150,481)	4.0
2007	($141,881)	4.0
2008	($141,881)	4.0
2009	($141,881)	4.0
2010	($141,881)	4.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill requires the Animal Health Commission to adopt a rule prohibiting the importation of all species susceptible to chronic wasting disease (CWD) until there are sufficient rules and regulations in place to monitor the intrastate movement of CWD-susceptible species or until a live animal test for CWD is available.  If passed, these changes will take immediate effect upon two-thirds vote of all house members; without such a vote, it becomes effective on September 1, 2005.

Methodology

Enforcement of the prohibition would likely require extra roadblocks, monitoring, compliance activities, and investigatory work which cannot be performed adequately with existing staff.  It is estimated that approximately four additional positions (three livestock inspectors and one investigator) would be needed to enforce the requirements of the bill.  It is also anticipated that there will be some minimal administrative costs each fiscal year and some technology costs associated with these new FTEs in fiscal year 2006 for an estimated total cost of $150,481 in fiscal years 2006 and $141,881 in all other fiscal years. 

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

554 Animal Health Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, ZS, JF