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