LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 1, 2007

TO:	Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB551 by Turner (Relating to the system benefit fund and to eligibility for and enrollment for benefits provided under the system benefit fund programs.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the PUC to develop and implement a program through retail electric providers to reduce electric rates for eligible nursing home customers. The bill would set a 20 percent maximum rate reduction for certain qualified customers. The bill would require the PUC to prepare and send quarterly and periodic annual reports on customer enrollment to each member of the Legislature and to the electric utility restructuring legislative oversight committee.

The bill would require the PUC to adopt required rules by January 1, 2008.

Based on the analysis of the Public Utility Commission, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 529 Health and Human Services Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, CT, SD, JRO, MW, TGl