LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 15, 2021

TO:	Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1998 by Springer (Relating to administrative penalties imposed by the Texas Animal Health Commission.), As Introduced

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined because the number of administrative penalties that would be set by the Animal Health Commission and the amount assessed for the penalties within the statutory maximum is unknown.

The bill would amend the Agriculture Code to increase the maximum administrative penalty the Animal Health Commission may impose for the violation of certain rules or orders from $1,000 to $5,000. 

Based on the information provided by the Comptroller of Public Accounts, increasing the maximum penalty may increase revenue to the General Revenue Fund, but the revenue implications associated with implementing the provisions of the bill cannot be determined because the number of penalties that would be set by the Animal Health Commission and the varying amounts that would be assessed up to the new statutory maximum is unknown. 

Based on information provided by the Animal Health Commission, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources. 

The provisions of the bill would only apply to violations committed after the effective date of the bill, or September 1, 2021. 

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 554 Animal Health Commission

LBB Staff:

JMc, AJL, MW, DA