Honorable Gary Elkins, Chair, House Committee on Government Transparency & Operation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB563 by Israel (Relating to whom certain violations of the law by a state or local governmental entity may be reported.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code by expanding the list of individuals to whom a public employee may report a violation of law by a state or local government entity while having the legal protection against retaliation from an employer.
According to the Texas Ethics Commission and the Texas Workforce Commission, the bill would have no fiscal impact. Based on information provided by the Office of the Attorney General, this analysis assumes any additional work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current agency resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, the fiscal impact may be significant but indeterminate due to the potential liability incurred by counties.
Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 356 Texas Ethics Commission