LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 9, 2007

TO:
Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1471 by Hancock (Relating to resource sharing among certain political subdivisions, including regional planning commissions, during a disaster.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Emergency Management Division (EMD) within the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to administer the Texas Statewide Mutual Aid System (system). In administering the system, the bill requires the EMD to assist political subdivisions in planning and implementing comprehensive all-hazards emergency management programs, including assisting political subdivisions to ensure that the local emergency management plan of each subdivision adequately provides for the rendering and receipt of mutual aid. The bill also would require the EMD to administer all requests for reimbursement for costs associated with providing mutual aid assistance in response to a request made by the state for an incident resulting in the issuance of a federal disaster declaration. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house or otherwise on September 1, 2007.

This analysis assumes the costs and duties associated with implementing the emergency management provisions of the bill could be absorbed within DPS' current appropriations and, therefore, would not result in a significant fiscal impact to the state.


Local Government Impact

The fiscal impact would vary by political subdivision depending on the provisions of an agreement, resources shared, the length of time the resources are shared, whether a lending entity requests the borrowing entity provide coverage for the borrowed items, and if so the cost of that coverage. However, it is anticipated that the sharing and providing coverage for borrowed resources would cost less than having to buy needed items in an emergency situation.


Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, GG, LG, DB