LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                               May 26, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Bill Ratliff, Lieutenant Governor
               Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney, Speaker of the House
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB409  by Cain (Relating to the powers and duties of the
               Texas Turnpike Authority division of the Texas Department
               of Transportation, including the power of eminent
               domain.), Conference Committee Report
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would amend the Transportation Code to expand eligible
construction costs related to turnpike projects and the authority,
powers, and duties of the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA).  The bill would
allow the TTA to engage in, and enter into contractual agreements to
procure, marketing, advertising, and other activities to promote the
development and use of turnpike projects with the concurrence of the
Texas Transportation Commission (TTC).  The bill would also allow the TTA
to form, develop, or utilize a transportation corporation for the
promotion and development of turnpike projects with the concurrence of
the TTC.  The bill would allow  turnpike project costs incurred before
the issuance of bonds to be reimbursed from the proceeds of the sale of
the bonds.  The bill would also allow the TTA to use funds from the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to undertake turnpike project
feasibility studies at the request of the TTC and would require that any
feasibility study expenditures be repaid from turnpike revenue bond
proceeds or any other proceeds eligible to pay for construction,
improvement, expansion, or operation of the project if it is constructed.
The bill would also establish guidelines and requirements for the
relocation of a public utility facility under specific conditions.

TxDOT does not indicate that any significant increases for turnpike
projects would be realized as a result of the bill.  It is assumed that
any expenditures from State Highway Fund No. 006 would be repaid in
accordance with current law.

The bill would take effect immediately if it received the requisite of
two-thirds majority votes of each house of the Legislature.  Otherwise,
it would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, JO, MW