LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 24, 2001
TO: Honorable Ron E. Lewis, Chair, House Committee on Energy
Resources
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2436 by Merritt (Relating to a requirement that the
Bureau of Economic Geology of The University of Texas at
Austin conduct a study of the East Texas Oil Field.),
Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB2436, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: negative impact *
* of $(2,243,794) through the biennium ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* 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:
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* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $(1,079,665) *
* 2003 (1,164,129) *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
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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 2001 *
* 0001 *
* 2002 $(1,079,665) 11.2 *
* 2003 (1,164,129) 11.2 *
* 2004 0 0.0 *
* 2005 0 0.0 *
* 2006 0 0.0 *
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Technology Impact
The Bureau of Economic Geology will utilize state-of-the-art reservoir
technology to study the East Texas Oil Field and then will hold
workshops for independent companies in the area to demonstrate and
explain the technology.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University
of Texas at Austin to conduct a study of the East Texas Oil Field and
make recommendations regarding maximizing the recovery of oil and gas
from that field. The bill would require salaries for additional FTEs,
travel and operating expenses during the next biennium.
Methodology
It is estimated that salary and benefits for scientists, engineers,
computer technologists and administrative staff would be $857,565 in
fiscal year 2002 and $998,579 in fiscal year 2003. In addition, travel
and operating expenses are expected to total $141,100 in fiscal year
2002 and $81,550 in fiscal year 2003. Computer time charges are
anticipated to be $81,000 in the first year and $84,000 in the second
year.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 720 The University of Texas System, 455 Railroad
Commission of Texas, 304 Comptroller of Public
Accounts
LBB Staff: JK, CL, PF, DC