Honorable Leticia Van de Putte, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1200 by Van de Putte (Relating to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
This bill would amend the Government Code to provide for the composition and general powers and duties of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, including the requirement to: act as a liaison to improve coordination among the Texas Commander's Council, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Veterans' Land Board, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; administer and monitor grants provided by the commission; and award grants, and establish criteria and procedures for those grants, for defense communities. The bill would allow for 2.0 percent of the total amount of grants authorized to be used in each biennium for related administration purposes and require the commission to include in its report submitted each biennium to the legislature and the governor a summary of the commission's meetings with the Texas Commander's Council and recommendations, goals, and challenges based on those meetings. The bill would establish provisions for grants to be awarded to local government entities, including: recipient eligibility; criteria; the use of proceeds; and application procedures and review. The bill would also repeal Sections 436.151 and 486 of the Government Code, related to assistance for local areas affected by defense restructuring.
The Office of the Governor indicates the provisions of the bill could be implemented within existing resources.
This bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
Under the provisions of the bill, certain units of local government would be eligible for grants as described by the bill; however, new revenue would vary by locality depending on how funds are disbursed and cannot be estimated at this time.