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:
SB1735 by Shapleigh (Relating to benefits for certain members of the Texas National Guard and armed forces of the United States.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Department of Information Resources (DIR) to make a bulk purchase of prepaid long distance calling cards to be used to call military personnel stationed in a foreign country. The bill would require DIR to sell the prepaid long distance calling cards to members of the armed forces and National Guard on active duty and their families. The bill stipulates that DIR may not sell a prepaid long distance calling card for more than the cost of the card. No significant fiscal implication is anticipated for DIR to administer the purchase and selling of prepaid long distance calling cards.
The bill would permit a person, under a call to active service, to terminate a vehicle lease that is executed by the person. The bill would prohibit an electric utility, retail electric provider, power generation company, aggregator, or other entity that provides retail electric service from disconnecting service to a residential customer who is a service member on active duty. The bill would prohibit a gas utility provider from disconnecting service to a residential customer who is a service member on active duty.
Local Government Impact
There could be a negative fiscal impact to localities that have municipally owned utility providers and have a significant population of active duty service members.