Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2376 by Turner, Sylvester (Relating to the creation and administration of a disaster recovery fund.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2376, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2016
$0
2017
$0
2018
$0
2019
$0
2020
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Volunteer Fire Dept Assistance 5064
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from New General Revenue Dedicated
2016
($30,000,000)
$30,000,000
2017
$0
$0
2018
$0
$0
2019
$0
$0
2020
$0
$0
Fiscal Analysis
This bill implements recommendations from the Texas State Government Effectiveness and Efficiency Report (January 2015). It would amend the Government Code to establish a disaster recovery fund account. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) would administer the account. Funds from the account may be used for grants to state and local entities and volunteer fire departments in an area where the governor declares a state of disaster. Grants may be used for 1) the nonfederal match for Federal Emergency Management Agency qualifying projects; 2) a disaster recovery project; and 3) reimbursing employee costs related to disaster recovery. The bill would create an application process for entities to receive grants and specifies information to be collected that TDEM may use to evaluate applications.
The bill would direct the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) to transfer $30 million from the Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Fund, General Revenue-Dedicated Account 5064, to the new disaster recovery fund account created by the bill. According to CPA, the fund transfer authorized by this bill would have no effect on the state's cash flow.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2015 or immediately, if it receives a two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house.
Methodology
Based on the Legislative Budget Board's analysis of DPS, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
The bill would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either with or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Local Government Impact
If a local government receives a grant from the disaster recovery fund, the state assistance would help alleviate the fiscal burden on the local government and would provide a cost savings to them. Otherwise, no significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety