Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB749 by Menendez (Relating to county law enforcement officer civil service systems; providing penalties.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would add Chapter 162 to the Local Government Code to authorize a county commissioners court that receives a petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters of a county to hold an election to create a Law Enforcement Officers’ Civil Service Commission. The bill would include requirements and procedures regarding the administration of the commission, the director and eligible members.
Local Government Impact
There could be a fiscal impact to a county, but it would vary depending on whether the county had at least 10 percent of the registered voters to hold an election to create a Law Enforcement Officers’ Civil Service Commission. It is assumed that a county would only approve the creation of a commission if sufficient funds were available or it would not result in a negative fiscal impact.
Dallas County reported there would be additional costs for fiscal year 2012 totaling an estimated $150,000 which would include salaries and benefits for two new employees and capital outlay expenses for office supplies and computers. Dallas County also indicated that while the costs may not be significant, the additional costs are at a period when the county is currently making budget reductions.
There would be a fiscal impact to local governments associated with an election; however, those costs would vary by locality and are not anticipated to be significant. Based on costs reported to the Secretary of State (SOS) in 2010 by a sampling of counties, municipalities, and special districts, the average cost incurred by a local governmental entity for an election held is $1.98 per registered voter.