Honorable Mark Homer, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2088 by Howard, Donna (Relating to increasing public awareness of the benefits of native plant species and problems associated with invasive plant species.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Agriculture Code and the Parks and Wildlife Code relating to increasing public awareness of the benefits of native plant species and problems associated with invasive plant species. The bill would require nurseries to post a storefront sign in a location visible to customers on the benefits of native plants and the problems with invasive species. The sign would be developed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and available to nursery owners in downloads from TPWD's website no later than October 1, 2009, but nurseries would have until January 1, 2010 to be compliant with bill provisions. The bill would require TPWD to maintain a brochure on its website relating to native and invasive plants. TPWD indicates it already has a brochure and that could satisfy the requirements of the brochure and can absorb the costs associated with posting the brochure and or signage on its website within its current resources. The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives two-thirds the vote of all members. Otherwise, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2009.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.