LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 2, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Robert Junell, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 1706, 
As Engrossed
          Committee on Appropriations                              By: Ratliff
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1706 ( relating 
to the funding of passenger rail service by the Texas Department 
of Transportation) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1706-As Engrossed
         
Senate Bill 1898, as engrossed, appropriates $5,600,000 to the 
Department of Transportation for loans to corporations providing 
passenger rail service in the state.  That appropriation is 
contingent on legislation such as Senate Bill 1706.
         

         
 
The bill would authorize the Texas Transportation Commission 
to make loans to certain corporations providing passenger rail 
service in the state.  Currently, Amtrak is the only eligible 
passenger rail corporation in the state.  

Loans could be 
granted only if a specific appropriation is made by the Legislature 
for that purpose.  The loans would be made from the General 
Revenue Fund.  The portion of the state highway fund revenues 
not dedicated by the constitution would serve as collateral 
for the loans.
          
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,RR ,RS