LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 16, 2003

TO:	Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Regulated Industries
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1278 by Armbrister (Relating to security officers for electric cooperatives.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would provide authority to the board of an electric cooperative that owns and operates a generating facility to employ and commission security personnel to enforce the law of the state within the jurisdiction designated by other subsections of the proposed amendment to existing statute. The bill identifies the powers, privileges, immunities, and jurisdiction of an officer performing the officer’s assigned duties as an employee of the electric cooperative. An officer would be required to take and file the oath required of peace officers and to file a good and sufficient bond in the sum of $1,000, payable to the Office of the Governor, to ensure that the officer fairly, impartially, and faithfully performs the duties required of the officer by law.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2003.

Local Government Impact

Electric cooperatives are not a political subdivision, therefore, there no fiscal impact to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

301 Office of the Governor, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 475 Office of Public Utility Counsel

LBB Staff:

JK, JRO, DLBa