LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 18, 2009

TO:	Honorable Tommy Merritt, Chair, House Committee on Public Safety
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB243 by Alonzo (Relating to equipping each K-9 law enforcement vehicle with a heat alarm system.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require a law enforcement agency (Department of Public Safety, sheriff's departments, and municipal police departments) to equip each vehicle used in a K-9 law enforcement program with a heat alarm system. Compliance would be required by January 1, 2011.

The Department of Public Safety already has a heat alarm system installed in its K-9 law enforcement program vehicles; therefore, no new costs would be incurred for the state.

Local Government Impact

Local law enforcement agencies that already use a heat alarm system would experience no fiscal impact. An agency that does not currently use a system would incur costs that would vary by agency, depending on how many vehicles would require the equipment. Dallas County, for example, reports the county sheriff's office would be required to install a heat alarm system in four vehicles at a cost of $600 each, to be replaced at a 3-year interval.

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, ESi, DB, MWU