LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 20, 2013

TO:	Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1494 by King, Tracy O. (Relating to certain regulatory programs administered by the Department of Agriculture; providing penalties; imposing fees.), As Passed 2nd House

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Agriculture Code relating to certain regulatory programs administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). The bill would amend statute pertaining to administrative penalties issued by the agency. The bill would also amend the Agriculture Code pertaining to weights and measures as well as licensing requirements for various regulatory programs. Additionally, the bill would amend the Agriculture Code pertaining to citrus producers voting in a referendum concerning a pest management zone. Based on information provided by TDA, this analysis assumes that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.

Under provisions of the bill, the imposition of criminal and administrative penalties would be permissive, and fees from licenses would be set by TDA. According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, revenue could be generated by this bill, but the amount cannot be determined.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

551 Department of Agriculture, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, JP