LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  March 10, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Steve Holzheauser, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 1611
          Committee on Energy Resources                              By: Turner, Bob
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1611 ( Relating 
to the testing of natural gas piping systems in school district 
facilities.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1611-As Introduced
         

Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a 
net impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the 
biennium ending August 31, 1999.
         
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 
         
 
          
FISCAL ANALYSIS

The bill would require school districts to 
perform pressure tests of natural gas piping systems each year 
before school begins.  The bill would require school districts 
to provide notice of the date and result of each pressure test 
to the company supplying natural gas to the district.  The Railroad 
Commission staff would be required, upon request of a school 
district, to assist in developing procedures for testing.  

METHODOLOGY

It 
is estimated that costs to local school districts to perform 
such tests would be between $250-500  per facility.  The Texas 
Education Agency estimates that there are 6,932 school district 
campuses that would be required to conduct the test.  

FISCAL 
IMPLICATIONS

The estimated cost for all school districts 
combined to conduct the testing required by the bill would range 
between $(1,733,000) and $(3,466,000) per year.  Costs to individual 
school districts would depend upon the number of facilities 
and current market rate for qualified individual to perform 
the tests.  

Similar fiscal implications to school districts 
would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in 
effect.  

          
   Source:            Agencies:   455   Railroad Commission
                                         701   Texas Education Agency - Administration
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,JH