LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 14, 2009

TO:
Honorable Mark Homer, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB205 by Shapleigh (Relating to the Texas Partnership for Children in Nature.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code by adding Chapter 450 relating to the Texas Partnership for Children in Nature (TPCN). The TPCN would be mandated to promote children's well-being by providing outdoor opportunities and environmental education. Ex officio members of the TPCN would include the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and the commissioners of Education (TEA), Agriculture (TDA), and State Health Services (DSHS). TPWD would take the lead in providing staff support to the TPCN, in coordination with the other agencies listed. The bill would require the TPCN to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature December 1 of each even numbered year on recommendations concerning the fulfillment of their mandate.

The bill would provide that the TPCN may accept gifts and grants from a public or private sources. According to TEA, the bill may result in the agency incurring additional travel expenses each fiscal year, which are estimated to be $2,950 assuming the commissioner of education chooses a designee to serve on the TPCN and assuming quarterly meetings with an overnight stay and a maximum of two days of meals and car rental. According to TPWD, the bill may result in the department incurring additional staff costs to coordinate and initiate TPCN activities, which are estimated to be $39,559 each fiscal year in 2010 and 2011 and $15,475 in fiscal year 2012 and $75 in fiscal year 2013 and each year thereafter. Based on the LBB's analysis of TEA, TPWD, TDA and DSHS's duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.


Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. TEA indicates that school districts may be required to implement educational projects and programs, and local administrative costs could vary widely depending on what choices are made by the partnership, and that any fiscal implications for the operations of local school districts would likely continue. However, TEA indicates that the partnership would select education projects that would not cause a large administrative burden for local school districts.


Source Agencies:
537 State Health Services, Department of, 551 Department of Agriculture, 701 Central Education Agency, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
LBB Staff:
JOB, SZ, TB, SD