Honorable Frank Corte, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3642 by Corte, Frank (Relating to homeland security; providing a penalty.), As Introduced
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 would require 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 require the EMD to develop reimbursement request procedures.
The bill would require the EMD to coordinate the establishment and maintenance of a list of state employees who are amateur radio operators.
Currently, DPS provides this service and would need additional FTEs due to increased workload. The analysis assumes that the fiscal impact would cost the state $96,153 in 2008 and 2009 including 2 full-time-equivalents (1 program specialist and 1 accountant) to implement the provisions of the bill. It is assumed the DPS costs could be absorbed within the agency’s current appropriations and therefore would not result in a significant fiscal impact to the state.
Local Government Impact
There would be no fiscal impact on an incorporated city, county, or joint board to appoint an emergency management director as outlined in Section 1.02 of the bill.
It is assumed that a local governmental entity would enter into an agreement to render mutual aid assistance only if the funds are available or with the understanding that there would be costs associated with providing the assistance.
Source Agencies:
301 Office of the Governor, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 405 Department of Public Safety, 701 Central Education Agency, 601 Department of Transportation