Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1811 by Turner (Relating to hearings conducted by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1811, As Introduced: a positive impact of $189,268 through the biennium ending August 31, 2019. However, it is also assumed there would be a negative impact of $413,183 in each fiscal year to the General Revenue-Dedicated Account No. 116 (Commission on Law Enforcement).
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
2018
$94,634
2019
$94,634
2020
$94,634
2021
$94,634
2022
$94,634
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Law Officer Stds & Ed Ac 116
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2017
2018
$94,634
($413,183)
2.0
2019
$94,634
($413,183)
2.0
2020
$94,634
($413,183)
2.0
2021
$94,634
($413,183)
2.0
2022
$94,634
($413,183)
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Occupations Code to transfer administrative hearings related to law enforcement employment terminations from the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Methodology
This fiscal note assumes all costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill would be funded out of the General Revenue-Dedicated Fund No. 116 (Commission on Law Enforcement).
It is assumed the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement would require additional resources to execute the requirements of the bill. The agency would need one Administrative Law Judge I position ($70,000 per fiscal year), 1 Legal Assistant III ($55,602 per fiscal year), and one Legal Secretary II ($35,819 per fiscal year). The benefits costs associated with these three positions is estimated to be $59,112 per fiscal year. It is also assumed these three positions would require a computer ($1,250 per computer).
It is assumed TCOLE would require $188,900 per fiscal year to pay for 2,500 hours of court reporter services at an hourly rate of $75.56.
It is assumed there would be a decreased case load resulting from the transfer of employment termination hearings from SOAH to TCOLE. SOAH estimates a decrease of 2,500 hours per year in cases, which is approximately equivalent to an Administrative Law Judge position. Accordingly, this fiscal note assumes savings to the General Revenue Fund 01 from this reduction equal to the salary and benefits of a single Administrative Law Judge I position ($70,000 in salary and $24,634 in associated benefits per fiscal year).
Technology
It is assumed the three positions would reach require a Microsoft Surface computer ($1,250 per computer).
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 407 Commission on Law Enforcement