LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          March 13, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Keith Oakley, Chair          IN RE:  House Bill No. 620
         Committee on Public Safety                     By: Carter
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas






FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
620 (relating to excavation operations that may damage
underground facilities; providing civil penalties) this office
has determined the following:

The bill would create the Texas Underground Facility Notification
Corporation, a nonprofit corporation, composed of electric
utilities, telephone utilities, gas distribution and transmission
operators, cable TV companies and municipalities.  All operators
of underground facilities, including political subdivisions of
the state, would be required to join the corporation and to pay a
one-time fee of $50 plus $1.25 per call for each call that
affects the member.  Excavators would be able to contact the
corporation in advance of site excavation to avoid damage to
underground facilities.


No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The fiscal implication to  units of local government cannot be
determined.


Source:
          LBB Staff: JK, RM, RR