Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB12 by West (Relating to the creation of a grant program to assist law enforcement agencies with the purchase of bulletproof vests and body armor.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB12, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($25,000,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
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
($25,000,000)
2019
$0
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2018
($25,000,000)
2019
$0
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Government Code relating to the creation of a grant program to assist law enforcement agencies with the purchase of bulletproof vests and body armor within the Criminal Justice Division (CJD) of the Office of the Governor. The bill would require law enforcement agencies to purchase vests or plates of a certain classification standard and to adopt a policy related to the deployment, allocation, and usage of vests and plates prior to application for a grant. The bill would also require the CJD to collect proof of purchase from grant awardees and report on certain details of awards to the Legislative Budget Board annually.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Methodology
This analysis assumes a grant amount based on Senate Bill 1, I-68, Rider 29, Bullet-Resistant Vests, which includes $25,000,000 in General Revenue in fiscal year 2018 for grants to law enforcement agencies for bullet resistant personal body armor. According to the Office of the Governor, each Level IV bullet-resistant vest costs $500. Based on this estimate, this analysis assumes that $25,000,000 will provide grant funding for approximately 50,000 vests. This analysis assumes administrative duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources in the Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor.
The Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Department of Public Safety, and the Alcoholic Beverage Commission indicate that the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished within each agency's existing resources.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Municipal League, the San Antonio Police Department anticipates significant cost savings under the provisions of the bill.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, cost savings from grants are anticipated to have a positive fiscal impact to counties. However, the extent of the fiscal impact would vary depending on the number of vests provided to each county.