The bill would establish the Alamo Commission and transfer responsibility for the preservation, maintenance, restoration, and protection of the Alamo complex from the General Land Office (GLO) to the new commission. The Alamo Commission would be administratively attached to the State Preservation Board (SPB). The Alamo Commission would be required to enter into a contract with the Department of Public Safety to provide security operations at the Alamo Complex. The Commission would also be subject to undergo Sunset review at the same time as the State Preservation Board, excepting the review during the period prior to September 1, 2029 when the board is scheduled to be abolished.
The bill would require all powers, duties, obligations, rights, contracts, bonds, appropriations, records, property, and personnel of the GLO related to the Alamo complex will be transferred to the Alamo Commission not later than the 30th day after the date the GLO determines the Alamo Plan, funded through appropriations provided in the 2024-25 General Appropriations Act, has been fully implemented. The State Auditor's Office (SAO) would be required to audit the GLO's expenditures pertaining to the Alamo Complex and submit a report to the Alamo Commission. The Commission would also be subject to an annual audit by an independent auditor.
The Commission would be required to prepare an annual budget and workplan for the complex and would be allowed to contract with a nonprofit for this purpose.
The bill would allow the Commission to negotiate with Mexico for the trade or lease of the 1813 Declaration of Independence and the Alamo Battle Flag. The Commission would designate spaces at the Alamo Complex for the display of these artifacts in addition to the Victory or Death Letter. The bill would also give the Commission jurisdiction over artifacts associated with the Alamo.
SAO indicates any additional costs to audit GLO's expenditures on the Alamo Complex and submit a report to the Commission could be absorbed using existing resources.
DPS assumes any additional costs associated with providing security services under the provisions of the bill could be absorbed using the agency's existing resources.
Subjecting the Alamo Commission to Sunset review under the Sunset Act would have no fiscal impact to the Sunset Advisory Commission, as the agency does not receive specific appropriations relating to the inclusion or exclusion of regular state agencies or advisory committees in the Sunset review schedule.
The GLO assumes that any savings from the transfer of Alamo duties and authority, including appropriations and FTEs, from the GLO will be a reciprocal cost to the Alamo Commission. According to estimates provided to the LBB in the agency's Legislative Appropriations Request, the agency expects to expend $435.9 million in the 2024-25 biennium. This amount includes one-time funding of $400 million to implement the Master Plan for the Alamo and Alamo Complex.
The SPB indicates that there may be an additional cost to the agency to provide administrative support to the Alamo Commission beginning in fiscal year 2028.
This analysis assumes that any costs for operations and capital expenses of the Alamo, as well as an allocation of indirect administrative expenses associated with the program, would be transferred from the GLO respectively to the Alamo Commission and to the State Preservation Board.
No significant impact to the state's cash flow is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.