LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 11, 2009

TO:
Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB232 by Rodriguez (Relating to grants for community-based telephone voice-mail services for individuals in crisis or in transition and to the rate and uses of the universal service fund fee.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to establish by rule a grant program to be funded from the Universal Service Fund that would assist service administrators of a telephone voice mailbox service for individuals who are homeless, are in transition, or cannot afford telephone services. The bill would establish eligibility requirements for the service administrators.

The bill would prohibit the PUC from assessing a fee of more than 3.4% of taxable communications receipts for the purpose of 56.021 or Subchapter I.

The Public Utility Commission indicates that any costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.


Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 538 Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of
LBB Staff:
JOB, JRO, ES, KJG