LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 22, 2013

TO:	Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB818 by Duncan (Relating to the official cotton growers boll weevil eradication foundation.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Agriculture Code allowing the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation to transfer funds, including producer assessments, between eradication zones or maintenance areas. Under provisions of the bill, the board of directors of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation must consult with affected cotton grower steering committees. The transfer of funds between eradication zones would then be dependent on a decision of both the board of directors of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation and the Commissioner of Agriculture. In the 2012–13 Biennium the state currently transfers $7.5 million per fiscal year to the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation. Additionally cotton growers pay maintenance fees directly to the Foundation. The bill would not change state expenditures related to boll weevil eradication, accordingly no significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 551 Department of Agriculture

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, ZS, JP