LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 15, 2007

TO:
Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Government Organization
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2543 by Kolkhorst (Relating to the continuation and operation of the Texas Animal Health Commission; providing penalties.), As Engrossed



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2543, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($300,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.

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
2008 ($300,000)
2009 $0
2010 $0
2011 $0
2012 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2008 ($300,000)
2009 $0
2010 $0
2011 $0
2012 $0

Fiscal Analysis

This bill is the sunset legislation for the Texas Animal Health Commission and if adopted would continue the Commission for another 12 years.  The bill also includes the following Sunset Commission recommendations: (1)clarifies the Commission’s role in preparing for and responding to natural or man-made emergencies, including a study of the State’s capacity to perform disease testing during emergencies; (2)clarifies the Commission’s authority to address diseases in other species that threaten livestock and fowl; (3)clarifies the Commission’s authority to register feral swine holding facilities and regulate movement of feral swine for disease-control purposes; (4)establishes an agencywide compliance policy and improves public information regarding its compliance process; and (5)requires the Commission to comply with and implement nonstatutory recommendations adopted by the Sunset Commission and to report back to the Sunset Commission regarding the implementation of these nonstatutory recommendations no later than November 1, 2008. 

 

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

Methodology

According to the Animal Health Commission, only Section 18 of the legislation would have a fiscal impact.  This section requires the Commission with the Texas Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to jointly conduct a study of the state's animal health laboratory capacity and provide the Governor, the Lt. Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives with a report by December 31, 2008.  Some portions of the study can be performed by TAHC and TVMDL; other portions, however, are beyond the scope of available resources and would need to be performed via contract for services.  The Commission estimates the cost of the study to be $300,000.  Since no other funding source is available for the study, this cost is assumed to be out of the General Revenue Fund.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 554 Animal Health Commission
LBB Staff:
JOB, MN, WK, ZS