Honorable Drew Darby, Chair, House Committee on Energy Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB247 by Anchia (Relating to the posting by the Railroad Commission of Texas on its Internet website of certain enforcement information.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB247, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($30,743) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2018
($18,630)
2019
($12,113)
2020
($12,113)
2021
($12,113)
2022
($12,113)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Oil & Gas Regulation 5155
2018
($18,630)
($124,681)
2019
($12,113)
($81,064)
2020
($12,113)
($81,064)
2021
($12,113)
($81,064)
2022
($12,113)
($81,064)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Natural Resources Code to require the Railroad Commission (RRC) to make available on its website a searchable database containing information related to the agency's inspection and enforcement activities, violations, and penalties. The data would be required to be organized by county, by operator, and by well, if applicable, and to be capable of being downloaded in bulk.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Methodology
Based on information provided by the RRC, a database server ($10,000) and specialized reporting software ($30,000) to create the searchable database required by the bill would be needed. RRC would also need an additional system analyst IV to implement the software and maintain the database ($93,177 per year for salary and benefits and $10,134 in one-time costs).
This analysis assumes the same method of finance split (13 percent General Revenue and 87 percent General Revenue-Dedicated Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Account Fund 5155) in the table above as the RRC included in an exceptional item request submitted to the Eighty-fifth Legislature for funding to implement an extensive tracking and reporting initiative that would make significant amounts of data available to the public.
Technology
Costs include $10,000 for a new database server and $30,000 for specialized reporting software to create the searchable database.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.