LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 17, 2013

TO:
Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1199 by Taylor, Van (Relating to the use of human remains for forensic science education, including the training of search and rescue animals.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Health and Safety Code relating to the use of human remains in forensic science education.  The bill would require forensic science programs to report certain information to the Anatomical Board of Texas and includes provisions regarding contracts with persons who train search and rescue animals. It is expected that the provisions of the bill could be implemented within existing resources.

This bill would become effective September 1, 2013.


Local Government Impact

The fiscal impact to an applicable local governmental entity or an institution that chose to accept anatomical specimens for the use of training search and rescue animals would vary depending on the number of instances a specimen was received and the transportation costs incurred.
 
According to the analysis by the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, there would be no fiscal impact to the medical examiner's office; however, there may be a fiscal impact on Travis County since the costs for transportation of a body is paid by the institution receiving the body. If the Travis County Sheriff's Office or another local governmental entity such as a county-wide emergency response coalition, wanted to receive a body for the training of search and rescue animals, that entity would incur the transportation costs for that purpose.
 
According to the Arlington Texas Police Department, no fiscal impact is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 458 Alcoholic Beverage Commission, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 716 Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
LBB Staff:
UP, SZ, ESi, SK, DEH, TP, JAW