LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 22, 2009

TO:	Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1027 by Watson (Relating to the establishment of an interagency farm-to-school coordination task force.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1027, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,165,086) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010	($1,088,793)
2011	($1,076,293)
2012	($1,076,293)
2013	($1,076,293)
2014	($1,076,293)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009
2010	($1,088,793)	1.0
2011	($1,076,293)	1.0
2012	($1,076,293)	1.0
2013	($1,076,293)	1.0
2014	($1,076,293)	1.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would establish the Interagency Farm-to-School Coordination Task Force to develop a plan to facilitate the availability of locally grown food products in public schools. The task force would include representatives of the Department of Agriculture (TDA), the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and representatives of various interest groups. The expenses of the members of the task force would be the responsibility of the agency whose commissioner appointed that member.

The bill states that subject to available funding, the task force shall: design education resources on nutrition and food education to be used by schools and school districts; expand food-focused experiential education programs; create a grant program funded by TDA that allows schools and school districts to recover the costs associated with purchasing locally grown food products; develop a database of available locally grown food products; enable local farmers and ranchers to market their products to schools and school districts; advise schools and school districts on methods by which a school or school district may improve its facilities to allow for the use of minimally processed, fresh, and locally produced foods in school meals; provide technical assistance to school food service agencies; and offer advanced skills development training to school food service employees.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.

Methodology

The bill provides that the grant program to be funded by TDA to allow schools and school districts to recover the costs associated with purchasing locally grown food products is subject to available funding. TDA indicates that 1.0 FTE would be required for the administration of this program. For purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that $1.0 million per year would be appropriated by the Legislature for the grant program. The related annual salary for the administration of this program would be $55,762, the annual benefits cost for this position would be $15,931, and the related travel, equipment, and other operating expenses would be $17,100 in fiscal year 2010 and $4,600 in subsequent years.

Technology

The cost for computer equipment, software, and data center services would be $4,600 in fiscal year 2010 and $1,100 in subsequent years.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

537 State Health Services, Department of, 551 Department of Agriculture, 701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, ZS, AH