John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1449 by Guillen (Relating to certain right-of-way easements on land owned by the Parks and Wildlife Department.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend portions of the Natural Resources Code and the Parks and Wildlife Code by creating Subchapter L, Grant or Lease of Land. The bill would provide that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission may grant, lease, or renew permanent or temporary right-of-way easements on land owned by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for purposes including the following: public highways, roads, and ditches; utility lines, including pipelines; electrical substations; equipment stations, and the prerequisite of utilities to access facilities of TPWD. The bill would provide that the TPW Commission may not grant or lease an easement unless the Commission receives the fair market value as consideration except that a highway easement to Texas Department of Transportation may be granted without consideration, and consideration for an easement may include goods and services. To the extent the bill would create provisions relating to grants and leases, no significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated. The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives two-thirds the vote of all members in both houses. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2011.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.