LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 13, 2017

TO:	Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2685 by Martinez, "Mando" (Relating to conditions of employment for fire protection personnel of emergency service districts; creating criminal offenses.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to authorize local government entities to provide certain civil service employment terms and benefits to fire protection personnel upon a local vote to adopt the employment terms. This fiscal note assumes a local vote to adopt the bill's civil service employment provisions for fire protection personnel includes recognition of, and ability to finance, any associated costs.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.

Local Government Impact

This fiscal note assumes a local vote to adopt the bill's civil service employment terms for fire protection personnel includes recognition of, and ability to, finance any associated costs.

According to the Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2, for fiscal year 2018, there would be costs associated with hiring 2 to 3 new FTEs at an estimated $350,000, $700,000 in leave costs, $25,000 in certification pay costs, $75,000 in additional hiring and promotion, and a one-time cost of $50,000 for administering the 2018 midterm elections, which would total $1,200,000 in new costs for fiscal year 2018 under the provisions of the bill. Similar costs would continue to increase each fiscal year, up to $1,575,000 in fiscal year 2022. In addition, the District reported there would be costs related to the accrual of leave that must be paid out when the employee leaves employment. The current estimate for the additional liability is approximately $2,000,000 and would increase each year by approximately $500,000 without the addition of new personnel.

According to the Travis County Emergency Services District No. 6, for fiscal year 2018, there would be costs associated for program administration at an estimated $900,000, and a one-time cost of $50,000 for administering the 2018 midterm elections, which would total $950,000 in new costs for fiscal year 2018 under the provisions of the bill. Similar costs would continue to increase each fiscal year, up to $1,094,000 in fiscal year 2022.

This analysis assumes there could be potential fiscal implications should an emergency service district adopt the subchapter relating to conditions of employment for fire protection personnel.

Source Agencies:

411 Commission on Fire Protection

LBB Staff:

UP, JGA, AI, JAW