LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 16, 2007

TO:	Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Regulated Industries
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3644 by Puente (Relating to designation of certain customer bill payment assistance program costs as an expense of operation that is a first lien against revenue securing certain public securities or obligations.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code to designate that a first lien against the revenue of an electric or gas utility system that secures the payment of public securities issued or obligations incurred under Chapter 1502, Government Code, also applies to funding, as a necessary operations expense, for a bill payment assistance program.

The bill would take effect immediately if it were to receive the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

The fiscal impact to a local government entity that owns or operates an electric or gas utility system could experience a negative fiscal impact. That impact would vary depending on how many low-income customers to whom assistance would be provided and the dollar amount of that assistance.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, JRO, DB