| TO: | Honorable Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3426 by Chavez (Relating to the establishment of a binational alcohol and substance abuse task force.), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would establish a Binational Alcohol and Substance Abuse Task Force. The task force would consist of 27 members and would report bi-annually to the governor and the legislature.
It is assumed that the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) would be able to absorb the staffing costs of supporting the task force within existing resources.
DSHS indicates that travel costs for agency personnel would total $8,244 per year to attend four meetings per year. DSHS also indicates that if they were to reimburse 21 of the 27 task force members for travel to four meetings per year, it would cost $61,950 per year. It is assumed that the agency would not reimburse as many task force members: other members of the council include state representatives and senators, the attorney general or a representative from that office, and the public safety director from the Department of Public Safety or a representative from that office. It is assumed that employees from other state agencies appointed to the task force would be reimbursed for travel expenses by their respective agencies and that these amounts would be absorbed within existing agency budgets. It is assumed that travel reimbursement for other task force members could be assumed within existing resources.
DSHS also indicates costs of printing the required report as $8,000 every other year beginning in 2007. It is assumed that these costs could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would authorize DSHS to seek and accept grants and donations to offset costs associated with the Task Force. DSHS is unable to estimate the amount of grants and donations that might be received.
| Source Agencies: | 537 Department of State Health Services
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, SD, CL, KF, LW
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