LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 24, 2001 TO: Honorable Steven Wolens, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2361 by Wolens (Relating to the abolition of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board and to the transfer of its powers and duties to the Public Utility Commission.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would abolish the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board (TIF Board) and transfer its powers and duties to the Public Utility Commission (PUC). The abolishment of the TIF Board and transfer of the fund's administration to the PUC could result in some one-time costs related to the physical relocation of TIF Board personnel, records, and equipment, as well as costs for integrating TIF Board responsibilities, functions, computer systems and databases into the PUC environment. However, these costs are expected to be balanced by savings related to the elimination of TIF Board member expenses, including travel, and the elimination of redundancy in fiscal/planning services, human resources, and information technologies that would occur with the absorption of TIF staff into PUC. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 367 Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, RB, PF, JM