LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 22, 2009 TO: Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB846 by Averitt (Relating to the exemption of oil and gas royalty interests owned by private institutions of higher education from oil and gas severance taxes.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB846, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,500,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 22, 2009 TO: Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB846 by Averitt (Relating to the exemption of oil and gas royalty interests owned by private institutions of higher education from oil and gas severance taxes.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB846 by Averitt (Relating to the exemption of oil and gas royalty interests owned by private institutions of higher education from oil and gas severance taxes.), As Introduced Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board SB846 by Averitt (Relating to the exemption of oil and gas royalty interests owned by private institutions of higher education from oil and gas severance taxes.), As Introduced SB846 by Averitt (Relating to the exemption of oil and gas royalty interests owned by private institutions of higher education from oil and gas severance taxes.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB846, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,500,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB846, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,500,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds 2010 ($1,250,000) 2011 ($1,250,000) 2012 ($1,250,000) 2013 ($1,250,000) 2014 ($1,250,000) 2010 ($1,250,000) 2011 ($1,250,000) 2012 ($1,250,000) 2013 ($1,250,000) 2014 ($1,250,000) All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Revenue (Loss) fromFoundation School Fund193 Probable Revenue (Loss) fromEconomic Stabilization Fund599 2010 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2011 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2012 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2013 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2014 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) Fiscal Year Probable Revenue (Loss) fromFoundation School Fund193 Probable Revenue (Loss) fromEconomic Stabilization Fund599 2010 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2011 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2012 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2013 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2014 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2010 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2011 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2012 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2013 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) 2014 ($1,250,000) ($3,750,000) Fiscal Analysis The bill would amend Chapters 201 and 202 of the Tax Code by adding Sections 201.056 and 202.062 to provide oil and natural gas severance tax exemptions on royalty interests owned by a private or independent institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003 of the Education Code. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009. The bill would amend Chapters 201 and 202 of the Tax Code by adding Sections 201.056 and 202.062 to provide oil and natural gas severance tax exemptions on royalty interests owned by a private or independent institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003 of the Education Code. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009. Methodology The bill would exempt private or independent institutions of higher education from severance taxation of oil and natural gas royalties. A survey conducted by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), a nonprofit association representing most of these private or independent institutions, indicated a potential loss of approximately $5 million per year. The table below allocates those losses between GR Account 0193Foundation School Fund and the Economic Stabilization Fund 0599. Note: Transfers to Fund 0599 occur within the first 90 days of the subsequent fiscal year only if total oil production tax revenue exceeds $531.9 million and total natural gas tax revenue exceeds $599.8 million. For purposes of this fiscal note it is assumed severance tax revenue will exceed these thresholds. If it does not, in any given year, the $3.75 million listed in the above table will be a loss to GR rather than the ESF. The bill would exempt private or independent institutions of higher education from severance taxation of oil and natural gas royalties. A survey conducted by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), a nonprofit association representing most of these private or independent institutions, indicated a potential loss of approximately $5 million per year. The table below allocates those losses between GR Account 0193Foundation School Fund and the Economic Stabilization Fund 0599. Note: Transfers to Fund 0599 occur within the first 90 days of the subsequent fiscal year only if total oil production tax revenue exceeds $531.9 million and total natural gas tax revenue exceeds $599.8 million. For purposes of this fiscal note it is assumed severance tax revenue will exceed these thresholds. If it does not, in any given year, the $3.75 million listed in the above table will be a loss to GR rather than the ESF. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JOB, MN, KK, SD JOB, MN, KK, SD