Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HJR135 by Thompson, Senfronia (Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas and establishing the Mental Health and Brain Institute Research Fund for the purposes of scientific research of all forms of mental health and human brain disease and disorders.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HJR135, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($3,000,204,406) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $204,406, which is included in the table below.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2024
($3,000,204,406)
2025
$0
2026
$0
2027
$0
2028
$0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from New Other Fund - Mental Health and Brain Institute Research Fund
2024
($3,000,204,406)
$3,000,000,000
2025
$0
$0
2026
$0
$0
2027
$0
$0
2028
$0
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The resolution would propose an amendment to Article III of the Texas Constitution (Legislative Department) to add new Section 68.
The proposed amendment would establish the Mental Health and Brain Institute Research Fund as a fund in the state treasury administered by the Comptroller. The fund would consist of money constitutionally transferred according to this amendment; money Legislatively appropriated; gifts, grants, and donations; patent, royalty, and license fees; and investment earnings. Money in the fund could only be used for certain purposes related to mental health and brain research.
The proposed amendment would direct the Comptroller, on January 1, 2024, to transfer $3.0 billion from the General Revenue Fund to the Mental Health and Brain Institute Research Fund. The amendment stipulates that this transfer would not be an appropriation of state tax revenues for the purposes of the calculation of the constitutional appropriations limit in Article VIII.
The proposed amendment would be submitted to voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
Methodology
This resolution, contingent on passage and voter approval, would authorize a $3 billion transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the Mental Health and Brain Institute Research Fund in fiscal 2024.
The fiscal impacts shown are for the mandated January 1, 2024 transfer only. The fiscal impacts association with any uses of the fund are shown in the fiscal note for the enabling legislation (HB 15).
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.