LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 10, 2003

TO:	Honorable David Swinford, Chair, House Committee on Government Reform
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HJR76 by Swinford (Proposing a constitutional amendment to provide that the Railroad Commission of Texas is governed by a single elected railroad commissioner.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HJR76, As Introduced: a positive impact of $533,246 through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004	($85,275)
2005	$618,521
2006	$927,799
2007	$927,799
2008	$927,799

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004	($85,275)	0.0
2005	$618,521	(10.0)
2006	$927,799	(10.0)
2007	$927,799	(10.0)
2008	$927,799	(10.0)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill proposes a constitutional amendment to provide that the Railroad Commission of Texas will be governed by a single elected railroad commissioner instead of by an elected three-member commission. This proposed amendment would be presented to the voters at an election on November 4, 2004. The newly elected commissioner would begin on January 1, 2005 and serve a four-year term.

Methodology

The Railroad Commission assumes the elimination of two commissioners and their staff would reduce the Commission’s FTEs by ten per year. Cost savings are based on the average operating budget of current commissioners.

The cost for publication of the resolution is $85,275.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	455 Railroad Commission
LBB Staff:	JK, SD