LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 15, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Teel Bivins, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 1611, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
          Committee on Education                              By: Turner,Bob
          Senate
          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-Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
         

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 at least 
every two years 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) every two years.  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 ,LP ,BB ,JH