LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 8, 2007

TO:
Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1043 by Duncan (Relating to the creation of an online volunteer fire department registry by the Texas Forest Service.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1043, As Introduced: an impact of $0 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 $0
2009 $0
2010 $0
2011 $0
2012 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain from
APPROPRIATED RECEIPTS
666 		Probable Revenue (Loss) from
APPROPRIATED RECEIPTS
666
2008 $84,576 ($84,576)
2009 $80,576 ($80,576)
2010 $80,576 ($80,576)
2011 $83,576 ($83,576)
2012 $80,576 ($80,576)



Fiscal Year Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007
2008 1.2
2009 1.2
2010 1.2
2011 1.2
2012 1.2

Fiscal Analysis

The bill establishes a statewide online registry of volunteer fire departments and their equipment
inventory, requires the Texas Forest Service to maintain the registry and set a reasonable registration
fee and registration renewal fee in an amount designed to cover the costs of administering the
program. The registry must be created by January 1, 2008 and would be paid for by fees from
volunteer fire departments.

Methodology

The Texas Forest Service estimates it would need a Program Coordinator and 0.2 FTE's for seasonal
labor to create and maintain the database, as well as to physically travel sites to ensure compliance. Total cost for labor would be $47,000 per year in salaries and $13,376 in benefits. In addition, the Texas Forest Service estimates an annual cost of $18,200 for supplies, fuel, telecom, maintenance and repair. In 2008 and 2011 there would be an additional $3,000 in each year for new equipment and the replacement of depreciated equipment. In 2008 $1,000 in additional funds for supplies would be needed. It is assumed the Texas Forest Service would adjust fees to cover all of the cost of the database.

Local Government Impact

Costs to volunteer fire departments to register would depend on the amount of the registration fee set
by the Texas Forest Service, estimated to be between $50-53 per year.


Source Agencies:
411 Commission on Fire Protection, 576 Texas Forest Service
LBB Staff:
JOB, WK, RT, JMI, KJG