LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 18, 2007

TO:	Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Government Organization
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3426 by Flynn (Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Veterans Commission.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would continue the Texas Veterans Commission (Commission) for six years. 

The bill would require the commission to improve its rulemaking process, enabling the Commission to respond to changes in its mission and the veterans it serves.

The bill would require the members of the Texas Veterans Commission to complete training on a number of aspects of the commission before assuming their duties. 

The bill would require the Commission to develop criteria and specific procedures for administering claims assistance services. 

The bill would require the Commission to develop and implement alternative training methods for training veteran service county officers and develop standard course materials, training curriculum, and examinations.  The bill would also require that training materials be accessible to veteran service county officers through the internet.  

The bill would require that the Commission implement a policy and use appropriate technology solutions to improve the commission's ability to perform its functions. 

The Veterans Commission estimates a cost of $320,531 in fiscal year 2008 and a cost of $295,531 in fiscal year 2009 to implement the provisions of the bill ($175,000 for a computer-based case management system and $441,062 for an agency career ladder).  However, it is assumed that any changes to current processes and additional duties required by the bill can be performed using available resources within the Veterans Commission. 

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007 and require the Veterans Commission to comply with the provisions of the bill no later than March 1, 2008 and require the commission to report to the Sunset Advisory Commission the status of implementing non-statutory recommendations no later than November 1, 2008.     

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 403 Veterans Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, DB, MN, ES, MS, EP