LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          March 22, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair       IN RE:  House Bill No. 2211
         Committee on Transportation                    By: Berlanga
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas






FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
2211 (Relating to the authority of a political subdivision or
private entity to construct or finance the construction of a
bridge to Mexico.) this office has determined the following:

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 require a political subdivision or private entity,
authorized by law to construct or to finance the construction of
a bridge over part of the Rio Grande that forms the border
between Texas and the United Mexican States, to obtain the Texas
Transportation Commission's approval for any new crossing prior
to requesting approval from the United States Secretary of State
pursuant to the International Bridge Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C.
Section 535,et seq.

In addition, the bill would require the Commission to secure the
advice and recommendations of the Department of Public Safety,
Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Historical Commission,
Texas Department of Agriculture, Alcoholic Beverage Commission,
Texas Department of Commerce, and any other state agency the
commission deems appropriate to determine the necessity for such
a bridge.

The bill would also require that prior to requesting approval of
the project, the political subdivision or private entity shall
conduct studies concerning the feasibility, location, and
economic and environmental impacts and provide the results of    




such studies and any other information  the commission may 
require by rule for its consideration.

The Texas Department of Transportation anticipates that there
would be no fiscal implication to the state but the information
is not available at this time.


No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

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


Source:   Department of Transportation
          LBB Staff: JK, ML, DF