LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
March 13, 1999
TO: Honorable Gary Walker, Chair, House Committee on Land &
Resource Management
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1287 by Hilderbran (Relating to the approval of certain
permit applications by state and local governments.), As
Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB1287, As Introduced: negative impact of $(10,242,136) through *
* the biennium ending August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(5,822,635) *
* 2001 (4,419,501) *
* 2002 (4,419,501) *
* 2003 (4,419,501) *
* 2004 (4,419,501) *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 1999 *
* 0001 *
* 2000 $(5,822,635) 88.5 *
* 2001 (4,419,501) 74.5 *
* 2002 (4,419,501) 74.5 *
* 2003 (4,419,501) 74.5 *
* 2004 (4,419,501) 74.5 *
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Technology Impact
The Railroad Commission (RRC) projects that $1,066,326 would be necessary
for programming and personnel costs for fiscal year 2000 and $55,793
each fiscal year thereafter.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require regulatory agencies to consider the approval,
disapproval, or conditional approval of an application for a permit
solely on the basis of any orders, regulations, ordinances, rules,
expiration dates, or other properly adopted requirements that were in
effect at the time the original application for the permit was filed.
If a series of permits is required for a project, the requirements in
effect at the time the original permit application was filed must be the
sole consideration for all subsequent permits required for the project.
All permits required for a project would be considered a single series of
permits.
The bill would apply to projects in progress on or commenced after
September 1, 1987. The provisions of the bill provide for several
exemptions.
Methodology
Several regulatory agencies responded that no significant fiscal impact
would be incurred in carrying out the provisions of the bill.
The RRC estimates that the bill would have the greatest impact on wells
permitting since it could apply to permits which were issued as long as
60 years ago. Other areas affected would include oil and gas waste
haulers. The Railroad Commission has not identified additional revenue
because most actions/requests do not require payment of a fee and there
is no authority to charge additional amounts.
Local Government Impact
Locals could incur some additional administrative costs, however these
costs are not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK, DE, MF, SG