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 provide grants to support veterans county service offices.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to expand the allowable uses of the Fund for Veterans' Assistance (Other Funds) to require the Texas Veterans Commission to use 5 percent of appropriations from the fund to provide grants for direct assistance and services to veterans in counties that maintain a veterans county service office with a population of 200,000 or more. As a result the bill would redirect an estimated $800,000 per fiscal year from current grant recipients to eligible counties to provide veteran services.
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.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, the bill would have a positive fiscal impact on counties that maintain a veterans county service office.
Source Agencies:
403 Veterans Commission, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts