Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1090 by Martinez, "Mando" ( relating to the creation of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The provisions of the bill establish Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 (Task Force) Rio Grande Valley which would be a new search and rescue team operated by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). The training and assistance capabilities must be substantially equivalent to the training and assistance capabilities of Texas Task Force 1. The new Task Force headquarters would be located in the Rio Grande Valley and its members would be responsible for any costs and expenses related to the operation, training, and equipment of the Task Force. Its members would be mostly composed of fire fighters from fire departments in various municipalities.
TEEX anticipates any costs at TEEX associated with the provisions of the bill would be covered with current resources.
The bill takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
Based on information provided by Texas A&M System, it is anticipated that members of the Task Force would use the equipment from their respective local fire departments and any costs for the equipment would be covered by the local fire departments. TEEX estimates that the training costs would total $200,000 per year and anticipates that the local fire departments that employ the members of the Task Force would cover the costs of the training.
Source Agencies:
710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 716 Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service