LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 4, 2005

TO:	Honorable Frank Corte, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB9 by Staples (Relating to homeland security; providing a penalty.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill authorizes the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Animal Health Commission to operate road station inspections to protect the state from shipments of potentially dangerous plant and animal pests and diseases. Both agencies anticipate being able to absorb the costs associated with these inspections within existing agency resources. 

The bill requires the Office of the Governor to develop and administer a strategic plan to design and implement a statewide-integrated public safety radio and computer communications system. The bill requires the Office of the Governor to develop and administer a plan to purchase infrastructure equipment for state and local agencies and first responders and advise representatives of entities involved in homeland security activities.

The bill requires that all funds appropriated for the purpose of providing administrative support to the Public Safety Radio Communications Council be transferred from the Department of Public Safety to the Office of the Governor. No significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated as the transferred funds will be used to fund the administration of the Governor's Interoperable Radio Communications Program.

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If the bill does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, the bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

554 Animal Health Commission, 301 Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 307 Secretary of State, 401 Adjutant General's Department, 407 Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, 411 Commission on Fire Protection, 454 Department of Insurance, 477 Commission on State Emergency Communications, 551 Department of Agriculture, 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 701 Central Education Agency, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JOB, ZS, JF, SR, MS, SMi, KJG