LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 9, 2007

TO:
Honorable Tracy King, Chair, House Committee on Border & International Affairs
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3818 by Merritt (Relating to the creation, operation, and funding of the Texas-Louisiana border region economic development steering committee.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Section 2056.012 of the Government Code and Section 36.354 of the Utilities Code, relating to the creation, operation, and funding of the Texas-Louisiana Border Region Economic Development Steering Committee.

The Texas-Louisiana Border Region Economic Development Steering Committee would consist of the county judges of the five most populous counties of the border region. It could also include the county judges of the remaining counties in the region, if the commissioners courts elected to join the committee. The committee would be required to develop a strategic plan for the economic development of the Texas-Louisiana border region.

The bill would require that any money collected from a surcharge—if imposed—paid by certain retail electric utility customers located in the Texas-Louisiana border region be used to fund the Texas-Louisiana Border Region Economic Development Steering Committee. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) would be required to by rule provide for the remission of the money collected from a surcharge to the committee.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

Based on analysis by the PUC, the agency could implement provisions of the bill using existing resources.


Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, DB