LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
March 21, 1995
TO: Honorable Senator Bill Sims, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 226
Committee on Natural Resources By: Cain
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
226 (Relating to exempting certain property owners from certain
requirements relating to abandoned or inactive pits.; Relating to
exempting certain property owners from certain requirements
relating to abandoned or inactive pits.) this office has
determined the following:
The bill would add Section 133.055, Natural Resources Code, to
establish an exemption to the requirement that persons
responsible for an inactive or abandoned quarry or pit construct
a barrier and obtain a safety certificate. The section would
exempt persons from the requirements if they became owners of an
existing pit prior to August 26, 1991, the pit was inactive when
purchased or acquired, has not been active since, and was not
created by that person.
The amendment would have an impact on the Railroad Commission's
strategic plan (Strategy 08-02-01, outcome and output measures)
and would result in a revenue loss to the General Revenue Fund-
Consolidated, Quarries and Pits Receipts, No. 043 . The number of
regulated quarries and pits would be significantly reduced, since
inactive/abandoned pits purchased or otherwise obtained prior to
August 26, 1991, would be exempted from safety certification.
The agency would deal mainly with transfers of active pits and
any new pits that might apply for certification. The number of
FTEs involved in regulating abandoned quarries and pits would be
reduced from 1.01 to .01 in FYs 1996 and 1997.
The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of
the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Probable Revenue Probable Savings Change in
Year Loss from GR from GR Number of State
Consolidated - Consolidated - Employees from
Texas Aggregate Texas Aggregate FY 1995
Quarry 043 Quarry 043
1996 $39,000 $39,000 (1.0)
1997 39,000 39,000 (1.0)
1998 19,500 19,500 (.5)
1999 9,500 9,500 (.2)
2000 4,500 4,500 (.1)
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source: Railroad Commission
LBB Staff: JK, KW, DF