LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 10, 2007

TO:
Honorable Bill Callegari, Chair, House Committee on Government Reform
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3430 by Strama (Relating to creating a single searchable central database on Texas Online containing information on all state expenditures.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3430, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,693,000) 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 ($1,500,000)
2009 ($193,000)
2010 ($193,000)
2011 ($193,000)
2012 ($193,000)




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2008 ($1,500,000)
2009 ($193,000)
2010 ($193,000)
2011 ($193,000)
2012 ($193,000)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Department of Information Resources (DIR) to publish on the internet a central database that is electronically searchable by the public that accounts for every dollar of taxpayer funds spent by the State of Texas. 

The bill would require that a link to this database be prominently displayed on the home page of the Texas Online portal. 

The bill would require that the database include as much information as possible and specifically include identifying information about state grantees and state contractors where the grant or contract exceeds $75,000 and that the data can be downloaded.

The bill also requires that the Legislative Budget Board, the Office of the Comptroller, and all other state agencies to cooperate and share all appropriate information with DIR as necessary to comply with the provisions of the bill. 

The effective date of the bill is October 1, 2007. 


Methodology

The Department of Information Resources estimates that the development and operation of a database to comply with the provisions of the bill would cost approximately $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2008 and an annual maintenance cost of $193,000 each fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2009.  DIR also indicates that the Comptroller will provide the data to Texas Online for reporting purposes via a weekly download of transactions.  User registration also will be required to access a set of standard reports.  No additional full-time equivalents are anticipated for the Department of Information Resources and any additional duties and responsibilities will be absorbed with existing resources.   

Costs for the Legislative Budget Board will depend on the scope and level of detail of the information required by the Department of Information Resources.

Another factor that could result in additional costs, is that not all taxpayer funds spent by the State of Texas are captured in the Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS).  For example, local funds spent by institutions of higher education, certain Medicaid funds and food stamp dollars are not recorded in USAS.  This could result in additional programming and reporting costs. 


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 308 State Auditor's Office, 458 Alcoholic Beverage Commission, 460 Board of Professional Engineers, 515 Board of Pharmacy, 601 Department of Transportation, 720 The University of Texas System Administration
LBB Staff:
JOB, MN, MS, EP, RC