Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB883 Fiscal Note / Fiscal Note

Filed 03/20/2023

                    LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD     Austin, Texas       FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION             March 20, 2023       TO: Honorable J. M. Lozano, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs     FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board      IN RE: HB883 by Romero, Jr. (Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; authorizing an increase in the amount of a fee; changing the amount of a civil penalty.), As Introduced     Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB883, As Introduced : a positive impact of $62,754 through the biennium ending August 31, 2025. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact toGeneral Revenue Related Funds2024$6,6762025$56,0782026$6,6852027($30,458)2028($56,502)All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 20212024($1,737,724)$1,744,40013.52025($1,840,222)$1,896,30014.52026($2,053,765)$2,060,45016.52027($2,269,758)$2,239,30018.52028($2,491,802)$2,435,30020.5 Fiscal AnalysisThe bill would amend the Government Code relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities. The bill clarifies that a person may not operate such a facility without a license and would adds inspection and reporting requirements for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The bill would require the agency to establish a fee for a migrant labor housing facility license in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of administration.TDHCA would be required to inspect facilities whenever a complaint is submitted regarding the condition of the licensed facilities, and at least once during the period of probable use of the facility. The bill would require TDHCA to set an annual quota of proactive inspections, provisions for the immediate suspension or revocation of a license, and a civil penalty schedule for violations and An action to collect the civil penalty could be brought by TDHCA through a contested case hearing, by the county attorney where the violation occurred, or by a migrant agricultural worker who lived in the facility at the time of violation. Civil penalties collected in actions brought by TDHCA or a county attorney would be deposited to the credit of the General Revenue Fund and could only be appropriated for enforcement of these bill's provisions.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 20, 2023

 

 

  TO: Honorable J. M. Lozano, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs     FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board      IN RE: HB883 by Romero, Jr. (Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; authorizing an increase in the amount of a fee; changing the amount of a civil penalty.), As Introduced   

TO: Honorable J. M. Lozano, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB883 by Romero, Jr. (Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; authorizing an increase in the amount of a fee; changing the amount of a civil penalty.), As Introduced

 Honorable J. M. Lozano, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs

 Honorable J. M. Lozano, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs

 Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board 

 Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board 

 HB883 by Romero, Jr. (Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; authorizing an increase in the amount of a fee; changing the amount of a civil penalty.), As Introduced 

 HB883 by Romero, Jr. (Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; authorizing an increase in the amount of a fee; changing the amount of a civil penalty.), As Introduced 



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB883, As Introduced : a positive impact of $62,754 through the biennium ending August 31, 2025. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB883, As Introduced : a positive impact of $62,754 through the biennium ending August 31, 2025. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact: 


2024 $6,676
2025 $56,078
2026 $6,685
2027 ($30,458)
2028 ($56,502)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact: 


2024 ($1,737,724) $1,744,400 13.5
2025 ($1,840,222) $1,896,300 14.5
2026 ($2,053,765) $2,060,450 16.5
2027 ($2,269,758) $2,239,300 18.5
2028 ($2,491,802) $2,435,300 20.5

 Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities. The bill clarifies that a person may not operate such a facility without a license and would adds inspection and reporting requirements for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The bill would require the agency to establish a fee for a migrant labor housing facility license in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of administration.TDHCA would be required to inspect facilities whenever a complaint is submitted regarding the condition of the licensed facilities, and at least once during the period of probable use of the facility. The bill would require TDHCA to set an annual quota of proactive inspections, provisions for the immediate suspension or revocation of a license, and a civil penalty schedule for violations and An action to collect the civil penalty could be brought by TDHCA through a contested case hearing, by the county attorney where the violation occurred, or by a migrant agricultural worker who lived in the facility at the time of violation. Civil penalties collected in actions brought by TDHCA or a county attorney would be deposited to the credit of the General Revenue Fund and could only be appropriated for enforcement of these bill's provisions.



An action to collect the civil penalty could be brought by TDHCA through a contested case hearing, by the county attorney where the violation occurred, or by a migrant agricultural worker who lived in the facility at the time of violation. Civil penalties collected in actions brought by TDHCA or a county attorney would be deposited to the credit of the General Revenue Fund and could only be appropriated for enforcement of these bill's provisions.

 Methodology

Based on information provided by TDHCA, implementation of the bill would result in a cost of $3.5 million in General Revenue and 14.5 FTEs over the 2024-2025 biennium, including $1.7 million in salaries and wages and $1.8 million in Other Personnel-related costs. All costs will be offset by fees set by TDHCA as allowed under the bill.Under current law, the license fee is $250, and the civil penalty is currently up to $200 for each day that a violation occurs. According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA), new license fees and civil penalty amounts would be set by TDHCA and are unknown; however, the bill requires that the amounts established by the agency be sufficient to cover the cost of administering the program. Therefore, this estimate anticipates revenue gains to the General Revenue Fund of amounts approximately equal to the cost estimate.Due to uncertainty inherent in penalty collection, this analysis does not take penalty collections into consideration for the purpose of defraying costs. However, should penalties be collected, these would be applied to costs and reduce the cost gap or licensing fees in future periods.This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.



Under current law, the license fee is $250, and the civil penalty is currently up to $200 for each day that a violation occurs. According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA), new license fees and civil penalty amounts would be set by TDHCA and are unknown; however, the bill requires that the amounts established by the agency be sufficient to cover the cost of administering the program. Therefore, this estimate anticipates revenue gains to the General Revenue Fund of amounts approximately equal to the cost estimate.Due to uncertainty inherent in penalty collection, this analysis does not take penalty collections into consideration for the purpose of defraying costs. However, should penalties be collected, these would be applied to costs and reduce the cost gap or licensing fees in future periods.This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.

 Technology

Technology needs anticipated as a result of bill passage include $12,000 in General Revenue for computers and software for 8.0 FTEs.

 Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 332 Department of Housing and Community Affairs

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 332 Department of Housing and Community Affairs

LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, AF, GDZ, SLee

JMc, AF, GDZ, SLee