LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 2, 1995 TO: Honorable Steve Holzheauser, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 2039 Committee on Energy Resources By: Cook House of Representatives Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 2039 (Relating to plugging notices of the railroad commission.) this office has determined the following: The bill would amend Section 89.043 of the Natural Resources Code to clarify existing law relating to the process for filing a certified notice to an operator in state-funded well pluggings and spill cleanups. Currently, the Railroad Commission may be charged a fee by the county in which the well or spill is located for the notice filing or recording. Under this bill, receipt of the notice by the county would not need to be acknowledged and the commission would not be charged a fee by the county. This could result in an estimated savings to the Oil Field Cleanup Receipts of $10,000 annually. To the extent that the commission is currently paying this fee to counties that require it, there would be a similar, offsetting loss to counties. No significant fiscal implication to the State or units of local government is anticipated. Source: Railroad Commission LBB Staff: JK, KW, DF