Honorable Ryan Guillen, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3952 by Guillen (Relating to registration and regulation of dangerous wild animals; providing penalties, creating and affecting criminal offenses, and authorizing fees.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3952, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,216,846) 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
($1,027,440)
2017
($189,406)
2018
($189,406)
2019
($189,406)
2020
($189,406)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2016
($1,027,440)
2017
($189,406)
2018
($189,406)
2019
($189,406)
2020
($189,406)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to the regulation of dangerous wild animals. The bill would require that a person who owns, possesses, harbors, or has custody or control of a dangerous wild animal for more than 30 days must obtain a certificate of registration from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The bill would authorize DSHS to charge a registration fee. The bill would allow the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) by rule to establish DSHS as the sole agency responsible for enforcing the regulation of dangerous wild animals; the responsibility would otherwise be assumed by local animal control authorities. The bill would require that DSHS create and maintain a public information registry on its website of all registered dangerous wild animals.
The bill would authorize the executive commissioner of HHSC to form an advisory committee, and members would be entitled to reimbursement for expenses as provided by Chapter 2110, Government Code.
Methodology
DSHS indicates that costs associated with the registration of dangerous wild animals could be absorbed within current resources. The cost to develop a registry of dangerous wild animals would be $884,200 in fiscal year 2016. Maintenance of the registry would be $163,000 per fiscal year starting in 2017. The total cost to implement the provisions of the bill, including indirect costs identified by the agency, would be $1,027,440 in fiscal year 2016 and $189,506 for each fiscal year thereafter.
HHSC indicates that implementation of the bill could be accomplished with existing resources. The Comptroller of Public Accounts indicates that fees set by HHSC could produce additional revenue, but this analysis assumes that amounts would not be significant.
Local Government Impact
Under the provisions of the bill, Sherriff's Departments would be the designated animal control authority of a county. Sheriff's Offices may charge reasonable fees for inspections, investigations, or other enforcement actions. There may be significant administrative and personnel costs to comply with the provisions of the bill; however the fiscal impact would vary depending on the resources of the department and the number of enforcement actions. Harris County Sherriff's Department anticipates a total cost of $480,000, including 5 additional staff, training, and equipment in fiscal year 2016.
The bill would modify misdemeanor offenses. Changes in costs associated with enforcement, prosecution, and confinement are not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact. Changes in revenue from fines imposed and collected are not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of