LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          April 4, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Bob Hunter, Chair            IN RE:  Senate BillNo. 365,
         Committee on State, Federal, &                        as engrossed
         International Relations                        By: Moncrief
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas






FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
365 (relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas
Historical Commission and to the abolition of the Antiquities
Committee and the transfer of the committee's functions to the
commission) 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 continue the Texas Historical Commission and make
several changes to the enabling statute. Significant changes
include abolishing the Antiquities Committee and transferring
administration of the Antiquities Code of Texas to the Texas
Historical Commission and authorizing local property tax
exemptions for privately-owned archeological sites.

The amount recommended for the administration of this agency in
the General Appropriation Act, as introduced, (FY96 = $4,132,691;
FY97 = $3,919,192 ) would be contingent upon passage of S.B. 365
or similar legislation.  The appropriations would be financed
from General Revenue, Federal Funds, Appropriated Receipts, and
Interagency Contracts and would provide for approximately 89
employees.

The provisions of the bill would result in a small savings to the
state from the elimination of direct costs for the Antiquities
Committee; however  the amount is not expected to be significant.    




 The provision of the bill authorizing local taxing authorities
to provide property tax exemptions for privately-owned
archeological sites could result in a revenue loss to local
governments if they choose to provide such exemptions.  However,
the fiscal impact cannot be determined because the number of
local governments that may offer this exemption is not known.


No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

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


Source:   Sunset Advisory Commission, Historical Commission
          LBB Staff: JK, KW, DF