Honorable Brian Birdwell, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1511 by Nichols (Relating to the operation of the Battleship "Texas."), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to direct the Parks and Wildlife Department enter into a memorandum of understanding with a nonprofit foundation for the operation and maintenance of the Battleship TEXAS. The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote, or on September 1, 2019.
The bill would also require the nonprofit foundation to consult with the state historic preservation officer related to preservation and repair of the Battleship TEXAS. The Executive Director of the Historical Commission is the state historic preservation officer and LBB analysis of the agency indicates the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provision of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Under current law, the Parks and Wildlife Department operates and maintains the Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site. The agency has indicated that operating and maintaining the historic site currently costs $1,693,541 each fiscal year related to salaries and related benefits for 25.6 FTEs ($1,303,541), travel costs ($4,700), and other operating expenses ($385,300). The Parks and Wildlife Department utilizes appropriations from General Revenue-Dedicated State Parks Account No. 64 and Sporting Goods Sales Tax Transfer to State Parks Account No. 64 for the operation and maintenance of the Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site and this analysis assumes the agency would utilize these appropriations to support the memorandum of understanding.
Additionally, the Parks and Wildlife Department has indicated that $1,236,552 is deposited annually to the credit of General Revenue-Dedicated State Parks Account No. 64 from revenue collected through visitation to the Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site. Current law requires all revenue collected for the Battleship TEXAS to be deposited to the credit of the General Revenue-Dedicated State Parks Account No. 64. Accordingly, this analysis assumes the nonprofit foundation would continue to collect the same amount of revenue from visitation under the memorandum of understanding and that such revenue would be deposited to General Revenue-Dedicated State Parks Account No. 64.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
802 Parks and Wildlife Department, 808 Historical Commission