LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 23, 2003

TO:	Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Infrastructure Development and Security
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2006 by Jones, Elizabeth (Relating to the construction and maintenance of utility, common carrier, cable operator, and energy transporter facilities along, over, under, or across a railroad right-of-way.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

This bill would give utilities, common carrier, cable operators, and energy transporters certain rights and responsibilities and provide a uniform process for those entities to obtain easements to maintain operate, and upgrade their preexisting facilities in railroad rights-of-way in this state consistent with preexisting licenses or agreements.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Local governments owning utilities or pipelines could experience savings in cases where such entities could cross over railroad rights-of-way in less costly locations.

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety, 601 Department of Transportation, 455 Railroad Commission, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas

LBB Staff:

JK, RR, KG, CL, TL