Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB105 by Hall (Relating to abolishing the Pan American Games trust fund, Olympic Games trust fund, Major Events reimbursement program fund, Motor Sports Racing trust fund, and Events trust fund.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. The fiscal impact would depend on the number of events held in Texas in the absence of support from any of the trust funds.
The bill would amend Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, Local Government Code, and Tax Code to abolish the Pan American Games trust fund, Olympic Games trust fund, Major Events reimbursement program fund, Motor Sports Racing trust fund, and Events trust fund. The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Governor's Office approved 125 applications for various events in the 2016-17 biennium, as of March 10, 2017. There were no events approved for the Pan American Games trust fund, Olympic Games trust fund, or the Motor Sports Racing trust fund; 16 events were approved under the Major Events Reimbursement Program; and 109 events approved for the Events Trust Fund. During the fiscal 2016-17 biennium, the state has allocated to the various local jurisdictions $94.05 million in sales, hotel, motor vehicle rental, and mixed beverage taxes as reimbursement for costs associated with endorsing and organizing the events.
The Comptroller of Public Accounts and Office of the Governor indicated that the administrative 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 Office of the Governor, local government entities are the primary applicants to the program. If all of the events that applied to the programs were held during fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2017, it can be assumed that, without the program, local governments would not have been reimbursed for up to $116.9 million for the state share of the total award amount.
Source Agencies:
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts