LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 24, 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:
SB955 by Seliger (Relating to awards for certain members of the state military forces serving on active federal military duty.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB955, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($14,060) 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 ($9,910)
2007 ($4,150)
2008 ($4,150)
2009 ($4,150)
2010 ($4,150)




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2006 ($9,910)
2007 ($4,150)
2008 ($4,150)
2009 ($4,150)
2010 ($4,150)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code to add the Texas Cavalry Medal, the Texas Purple Heart Medal, and the Texas Combat Service Ribbon to the awards available to state military forces serving on active federal military duty. The awards would be available only to military forces serving on or after September 11, 2001, and meeting the other criteria for award. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives the requisite two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005.


Methodology

The bill would cost $9,910 in fiscal year 2006 and $4,150 in fiscal years 2007 through 2010. 

The fiscal year 2006 cost would be higher than the subsequent years because the two medals will require dies to be cast, costing $600 each, and because more soldiers will be eligible for the award the first year. The estimated cost of the Texas Cavalry Medal is $5 each, and 182 soldiers would be eligible in 2006. The cost of the die, $600, plus the cost of the awarded medals, $910, equals a fiscal year 2006 total cost of $1,510 for the Texas Cavalry Medal. The estimated cost of the Texas Purple Heart Medal is $30 each, and 60 soldiers would be eligible in 2006. The cost of the die, $600, plus the cost of the awarded medals, $1,800, equals a fiscal year 2006 total cost of $2,400. The estimated cost of the Texas Combat Service Ribbon is $0.50 each, and 12,000 soldiers would be eligible in 2006, for a total fiscal year 2006 cost of $6,000.

In fiscal years 2007 through 2010, the estimated annual cost for both medals and the ribbon would be $4,150. It is estimated that twenty soldiers would be eligible in each subsequent fiscal year for the Texas Cavalry Medal, for a annual cost of $100. Thirty-five soldiers would be eligible for the Texas Purple Heart Medal in each subsequent fiscal year for an annual cost of $1,050. Six thousand soldiers would be eligible for the Texas Combat Service Ribbon in each subsequent fiscal year for an annual cost of $3,000. 


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


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