LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 24, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Gary Walker, Chair, House Committee on Land &
               Resource Management
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2238  by Moreno, Joe E. (Relating to the closing of
               streets by institutions of higher education in certain
               counties.), As Introduced
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would add conditions to the existing statutory authority for an
institution of higher education to close a street or alley running
through the campus.  The bill would require an institution to provide 45
days prior written notice of its intent to close the affected street or
alley to the governmental body which owns, controls, or maintains the
street or alley.  The bill would also require an institution to grant the
governmental body and all franchise utility companies with utility lines
or easements to continue the operation of existing lines or utilities,
or pay for the expense of their relocation.

An institution would only incur expense if relocation of facilities
easements is required.  These expenses could be funded from construction
bond proceeds (non-general revenue funds).
  
Local Government Impact
  
According to officials in Harris and Dallas counties, there would be no
significant fiscal impact caused by the provisions of the bill; however,
the City of Dallas Transportation Director indicated that if the city
should have to reroute traffic as a result of a university closing
streets and if rerouting were to include building a new roadway, the
cost would be at least $1 million per lane mile, not including design,
right-of-way, or purchasing improved property.
  
  
Source Agencies:   781   Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
LBB Staff:         JK, CL, KC, DB