Honorable Eddie Lucio Jr., Chair, Senate Committee on International Relations & Trade
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1461 by Lucio (Relating to the creation of the disaster reconstruction coordination office within the governor's office; creating the disaster contingency account.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1461, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($663,248) through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2012
($341,851)
2013
($321,397)
2014
($321,397)
2015
($321,397)
2016
($321,397)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2011
2012
($341,851)
3.0
2013
($321,397)
3.0
2014
($321,397)
3.0
2015
($321,397)
3.0
2016
($321,397)
3.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code and create the Disaster Reconstruction Coordination Office (Office) within the Office the Governor. That office would be responsible for developing the State Reconstruction Plan that would include examining state and federal programs relating to reconstruction following a disaster and identifying best practices for reconstruction. In addition, the Office would be charged with improving communication between local, state, and federal governmental entities in order to resolve infrastructure, capacity, and statutory problems that inhibit reconstruction following a disaster.
The bill would also require that certain state agencies designate a staff member to serve as an agency liaison to advise the Office on disaster reconstruction to advise the Office and make recommendations on disaster reconstruction across different regions of the state. Furthermore, the bill would require the creation of a task force appointed by the Office composed of certain local, state, and nonprofit entities to advise and make recommendations regarding reconstruction across different regions of the state and assist with the development of the State Reconstruction Plan. The bill would also create the Disaster Contingency Account within the General Revenue Fund.
Methodology
It is assumed that the Office of the Governor would require three full-time staff totaling $210,000 out of General Revenue for salaries each fiscal. Benefit costs associated with those positions would total $58,506 each fiscal year out of General Revenue. Travel costs would total $15,000 out of General Revenue for each fiscal and professional fees and services, for printing, additional research, and other related items, would total $25,000 each fiscal year. Other operating costs, which include phones, furniture, computers, postage, and other consumable supplies, would total $33,345 in fiscal year 2012 and ongoing costs of $12,891 in fiscal year 2013 and beyond out of General Revenue.
This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either with or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
301 Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 332 Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 357 Texas Department of Rural Affairs, 405 Department of Public Safety, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department