LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 6, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable David Sibley, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Business & Commerce
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB465  by Shapleigh (Relating to the creation of a border
               port authority; granting the power of eminent domain and
               the right to issue bonds.), As Introduced
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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The bill would provide the legal basis, requirements, and authorization
for counties in the border region to create single-county or multi-county
border port authorities and would grant authorities the power of eminent
domain and the right to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of
facilitating the movement of goods.

The bill would establish the powers and abilities of authorities and
would authorize authorities to impose fees for the use of any facility,
project, structure, or service they provided.  The bill would also allow
authorities to lease facilities they owned.  The bill would require that
bonds issued by authorities be secured by a pledge of and be payable from
all or part of the revenue generated from the use of any facility,
project, or structure for which bonds were issued.  The bill would allow
authorities to borrow and loan money and to invest money under certain
guidelines.

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2001.
  
Local Government Impact
  
Although it is estimated that units of local government would not realize
significant costs to hold elections and publish election notices,
significant costs are anticipated with the creation and operation of
port authorities.  The issuance of obligations would have a significant
fiscal impact on units of local government through fees, tolls and
charges to pay off the debt service of any obligations issued through
authorities.  However, it is assumed that costs incurred would be
recovered by revenue generated by the authorities.
  
  
Source Agencies:   601   Texas Department of Transportation, 352   Texas
                   Bond Review Board, 304   Comptroller of Public
                   Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, JO, MW