LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 15, 2015

TO:
Honorable Kevin Eltife, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1812 by Kolkhorst (Relating to transparency in the reporting of eminent domain authority and the creation of an eminent domain database.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 2206 of the Government Code, pertaining to eminent domain, to direct the Comptroller of Public Accounts to create an internet database with information regarding public and private entities authorized by the state by a general or special law to exercise the power of eminent domain.  The bill would require that the database include certain information pertaining to the eminent domain authority for each entity, including: name of the entity, provision of law or laws that grants the authority, geographic territory subject to the entity's authority, effective date of the entity's authority, the entity's internet web address or other contact information, and other related information that the entity and Comptroller may agree to provide. The database would be updated annually and, to the extent possible, present information in a manner that is searchable and intuitive to users. The Comptroller would be prohibited from charging a fee to access the database. Each entity would be required to provide information to the Comptroller to operate and update the database. The Comptroller would be required to create and post the database not later than December 31, 2017.
 
The bill would take effect immediately upon receipt of a two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house; otherwise the bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
 
The Comptroller of Public Accounts indicates that any cost associated with implementation of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:
UP, CL, LCO, SZ, EP, KVe