Honorable Donna Campbell, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Border Security
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1679 by Lucio (Relating to the use of the fund for veterans' assistance to support veterans county service offices.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would expand the allowable uses of the Fund for Veterans' Assistance (Other Funds) to require the Texas Veterans Commission to use 30 percent of appropriations from the fund to provide annual support payments to counties that maintain a veterans county service office (counties with a population of 200,000 or more). The funds to which the bill would now entitle the counties would only be used to fund office administration, program and operational administration, and salaries of the county's officer and if applicable the salary of the assistant officer. As a result, the bill would redirect an estimated $4.8 million per fiscal year from current grant recipients to eligible counties.
This analysis assumes that any costs associated with implementing this bill could be absorbed within the existing resources of the Veterans Commission and the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Although this bill would not make an appropriation, it would establish the basis for an appropriation. Further, this legislation would create a dedicated revenue source for eligible counties.
This bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
This analysis assumes eligible counties may see an increase in revenue; however, the amount would vary and is contingent on actual transfers to each county. Certain local entities could also see a decrease in revenue.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 403 Veterans Commission