LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 7, 2017

TO:
Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB568 by Rodríguez (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 SB568, 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.


Source Agencies:
455 Railroad Commission
LBB Staff:
UP, PBO, PM, SZ, MW, RC