Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation, & Tourism
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2845 by McClendon (Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would continue the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) for 12 years. The bill would require TSLAC and the Texas Education Agency to conduct a joint study on the needs of public school libraries, determine which needs each agency is best suited to address, and submit a report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and appropriate oversight committees of each house of the legislature by December 31, 2008. The bill would authorize TSLAC to encourage libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and governmental entities to develop ways to provide Internet access to digitized cultural resources. Currently TSLAC is performing similar duties and it is estimated that the agencies can implement these requirements using existing resources. Therefore, no significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated.
The bill would require TSLAC to adopt a formula for distributing system operation grants and develop a competitive library grant program. No significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated as the bill directs appropriated grant amounts and it is estimated that the agency can implement these requirements using existing resources.
The bill deletes the requirement of TSLAC’s certification of county librarians. It is estimated that one FTE currently allocates approximately 300 hours per fiscal year on county librarian certifications. However, this analysis assumes this FTE would be redirected to other tasks if the bill were implemented. Therefore, no significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.