Honorable Poncho Nevárez, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB34 by Raymond (Relating to a statewide disaster alert system.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB34, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($13,985,426) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
($7,939,291)
2021
($6,046,135)
2022
($6,046,135)
2023
($6,046,135)
2024
($6,046,135)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2020
($7,939,291)
2021
($6,046,135)
2022
($6,046,135)
2023
($6,046,135)
2024
($6,046,135)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill amends statute to require the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to develop a statewide alert system to be activated in the event of disaster. The bill requires TDEM to develop, implement, and maintain the system with certain capabilities, including: electronic notification of events; information regarding the availability of certain amenities; and threat levels of certain disasters.
The bill takes effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote of each chamber; or September 1, 2019.
Methodology
According to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the provisions of the bill would require significant staffing to develop and maintain a new disaster alert system, as no system currently exists. The cost to staff the new alert system is estimated to be $1,280,053 for the 2020-21 biennium, which includes $674,050 in fiscal year 2020, and $606,00 for ongoing costs in fiscal year 2021 and future years.
DPS reports that in addition to staffing, a large technology component would be required to maintain the system. This analysis assumes the cost for disaster alert equipment and maintenance in fiscal year 2020 is $6,632,994, including development costs. DPS estimates ongoing costs for licenses and expansion based on assumed population growth at $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and future years.
In total, the newly developed and implemented disaster alert system will cost an estimated $7,939,291 for fiscal year 2020, and $6,046,135 for fiscal year 2021 and future years.
Technology
DPS estimates its technology impact at $1,238,781 in FY 2020 with ongoing maintenance costs of $433,115 in FY 2021 and future years.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 405 Department of Public Safety