Honorable Terry Canales, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1512 by Flores (Relating to payment of costs related to the relocation of certain political subdivision utility facilities for state highway projects.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Transportation Code §203.092 to authorize a utility to make a relocation of a utility facility required by a state highway improvement project at the expense of the state if the Texas Transportation Commission determines that (1) the utility is, or is owned or operated by, a political subdivision; (2) a financial condition would prevent the utility from being able to pay the cost of relocation at a time when payment would adversely affect its ability to operate or provide essential customer service; and (3) the utility would be unable to receive a State Infrastructure Bank loan and is otherwise unable to finance the relocation cost or is, or is owned by, a political subdivision that has a population of less than 5,000 and is located in a county that has been included in at least five federal disaster declarations in the six-year period preceding the proposed date of the relocation. The bill would stipulate that the total amount paid by TxDOT for the relocation of such utility facilities may not exceed $10 million in any fiscal year.
Based on information provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, this analysis assumes any costs associated with the relocation of utility under the conditions specified by the bill would be accommodated within the agency's existing highway planning and construction funding sources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.