LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
April 23, 1999
TO: Honorable Gary Walker, Chair, House Committee on Land &
Resource Management
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB 1886 by Turner, Bob (relating to abandoned railroad
right-of-way), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB1886, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: negative impact *
* of $(591,890) 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 $(324,498) *
* 2001 (267,392) *
* 2002 (267,392) *
* 2003 (267,392) *
* 2004 (267,392) *
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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 $(324,498) 5.0 *
* 2001 (267,392) 5.0 *
* 2002 (267,392) 5.0 *
* 2003 (267,392) 5.0 *
* 2004 (267,392) 5.0 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the transfer of property interests in abandoned
railroad right-of-way to adjacent landowners. The bill would also
require the Railroad Commission to certify that the railroad company
relinquishes all rights, responsibilities, benefits, and interests
derived from state law that relate to the railroad and railroad
right-of-way for the abandoned rail service.
Methodology
The Railroad Commission projects that a new section in the Rail Division
would need to be established to handle the new workload created by the
legislation. The section's primary duties would include rulemaking and
certification of title interests of the state and adjacent landowners to
abandoned rail lines.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) projects that if a
declaration is made affecting the two existing rail transportation
districts in which TXDOT has an ownership interest, there would be a
loss of right-of-way valued at $676,308.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 455 Railroad Commission
LBB Staff: JK, DE, MF