Honorable Bob Hall, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2170 by Rodríguez (Relating to pollinator health.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2170, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,669,580) 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
($834,790)
2021
($834,790)
2022
($846,934)
2023
($859,442)
2024
($872,325)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($834,790)
2.0
2021
($834,790)
2.0
2022
($846,934)
2.0
2023
($859,442)
2.0
2024
($872,325)
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Agriculture Code by requiring the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (Extension), in consultation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), to develop educational materials regarding best practices for avoiding adverse effects from pesticides on bees and other pollinating insects.
Methodology
The Extension reports that the agency would require two new FTEs to accomplish the work because there is currently no faculty generating the research to develop the educational programming.
One Education Specialist would be tasked with generating the educational materials to translate research into action plans. A Research Specialist would research landscape management practices that might improve habitat for native pollinators.
According to the agency, personnel costs (including salaries and employee benefits) for the biennium would total $809,580 for the biennium. $600,000 would be used to contract with a third-party such as Texas A&M AgriLife Research or another research entity with experience in pollinators. Travel and equipment costs would total $260,000.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
551 Department of Agriculture, 555 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service