LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 17, 2009

TO:	Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB212 by Shapleigh (Relating to the sale or transportation of certain desert plants; providing a penalty.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Department of Agriculture (TDA) to register and enter into a compliance agreement with any person who grows or harvests desert plants for sale.  The compliance agreement would ensure that a manifest or other form of documentation accompanies the person’s desert plants.  The bill would give TDA the authority to issue and enforce an order to stop the sale of desert plants if it is not accompanied by the proper documentation.  The bill would provide a penalty for any person who violates the requirements of the bill.

TDA indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2009. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

551 Department of Agriculture, 405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, SZ, AH, TP