Honorable Eddie Lucio Jr., Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2977 by Coleman (Relating to counties and certain other political subdivisions; authorizing fees.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety, Government, Special District Local Laws, Transportation and Local Government Codes relating to counties and other political subdivisions. The bill would permit counties to dispose of certain county surplus or salvage property through recycling programs. The bill would permit Lynn County Hospital District to issue general obligation bonds only if the bonds are authorized by a majority of the voters at an election held for that purpose. The bill would permit certain municipalities to issue a final decision to grant or deny a request for the abandonment of an alley in certain circumstances.
The bill would expand the categories of school district employees eligible to receive mental health first aid training and related grants. The training and grants would be available to employees including principals, assistant principals, educators, teacher's aides, counselors, nurses, school bus drivers, and school resource officers.
The bill would permit the commissioners court of Kaufman County to pass a resolution authorizing a new civil filing fee of up to $15 to be deposited into a special county account for the construction, renovation, or improvement of the facilities housing the district courts, county courts at law, and justice courts. Under the provisions of the bill, a statutory probate court would be authorized to collect a fee of up to $15. The bill provides an expiration of the fee.
The Office of Court Administration reported no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated.
The increase in the target population would not result in a significant increase of cost for the Department of State Health Services. Statute indicates grants shall be made only to the extent funds are appropriated.
The bill has no direct fiscal implications for the Foundation School Program or the operations of the Texas Education Agency.
Local Government Impact
School district employees and resource officers would be eligible to access mental health first aid training. It is assumed that the cost of training would be covered by available grant funding. Some school districts could incur costs for substitute teachers to cover classrooms while teachers were in training.
The Comptroller of Public Accounts contacted Kaufman County to determine the fiscal impact. Kaufman County's fiscal year (FY) begins October 1. Kaufman County reported that the county would collect an estimated $20,610 per year in revenue for FY 2016- FY 2020, assuming that all filings remain at the current levels. FY 2015 would be prorated for one month, totaling $1,718 in additional revenue resulting from the new fines.
There could be costs associated with the administration of an election for an election called for the purpose of general obligation bonds; these costs would depend on the number of voters and the resources of the county.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 701 Central Education Agency