LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 20, 2009

TO:	Honorable Burt R. Solomons, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
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.), As Introduced

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 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, KJG, ES