Honorable Gary Elkins, Chair, House Committee on Government Transparency & Operation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2305 by Guillen (Relating to the operations, communications, and notice procedures of state agencies.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, although some agencies may experience an indeterminate but positive fiscal impact as a result of being able to transmit and receive documents in electronic format.
The bill would require Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) to compile a report every four years, beginning in fiscal year 2021, listing all statutorily required reports, and, with the assistance of state agencies, assessments as to the ongoing usefulness of those reports. As the agency currently compiles this report as required by rider, no fiscal impact is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to allow a state agency to transmit and receive documents in a format prescribed by the agency, provided it does not compromise program delivery or violate federal law. This is expected to result in cost avoidance and increased available staff time for agencies. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) anticipates an indeterminate but positive fiscal impact from this provision. The bill would include a one-time requirement that agencies report cost savings or other efficiencies achieved from this action in their next Legislative Appropriations Request.
The bill would amend certain sections of the Government, Health and Safety, Labor, Natural Resources, Occupations and Transportation Codes to allow for the electronic transmission or receipt of certain documents. No significant fiscal impact is anticipated by Texas Board of Nursing, Texas Workforce Commission, General Land Office and the Department of State Health Services. According to TxDOT, the current cost to process toll invoices is estimated at $380,000 per month, or approximately $9.1 million in the 2018-19 biennium. Allowing customers to opt-in to receiving toll invoices electronically would reduce the amount of associated paper, postage costs and provide a positive fiscal impact that cannot be determined at this time.
The bill would require state agencies to submit certain reports required by statute, rule or rider in the General Appropriations Act, to the Texas Digital Archive, administered by TSLAC, once the Archive is properly configured for such use. The bill would also require TSLAC to develop guidelines for report submission, and the agency would monitor agency usage in accordance with the bill. According to TSLAC, the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources and no significant fiscal impact is anticipated.
The bill would require the Comptroller of Public Accounts conduct a one-time study on mail operations of state agencies that receive an appropriation, and identify provisions of law relating to the mailing requirements for the agency that impede the efficient transmission and receipt of documents by the agency. No fiscal impact is anticipated by the agency.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
306 Library & Archives Commission, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 601 Department of Transportation, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 313 Department of Information Resources, 507 Texas Board of Nursing, 537 State Health Services, Department of