LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 23, 2011

TO:	Honorable Jim Keffer, Chair, House Committee on Energy Resources
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1968 by Chisum (Relating to regulation of gas pipelines; providing penalties.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would create the Gas Pipeline Regulatory Act, to be added to Title 3 of the Utilities Code. The Act would mirror, to a great extent, the Gas Utility Regulatory Act, which is applicable to gas utilities. The effect of the bill would be that natural gas pipelines would no longer be regulated as gas utilities, as the term gas utility is currently defined. None of the changes proposed by the bill is expected to result in a significant change in the workload of the Railroad Commission or any other state agency. 

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 308 State Auditor's Office, 360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 455 Railroad Commission, 475 Office of Public Utility Counsel

LBB Staff:

JOB, SZ, TL