LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 31, 2003

TO:
Honorable David Dewhurst , Lieutenant Governor, Senate
Honorable Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1639 by Staples (Relating to regulating the waters of the state, including the spacing and production of groundwater and the control of instream flows.), Conference Committee Report



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1639, Conference Committee Report: a negative impact of ($30,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

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
2004 ($15,000)
2005 ($15,000)
2006 $0
2007 $0
2008 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004 ($15,000) 0.3
2005 ($15,000) 0.3
2006 $0 0.0
2007 $0 0.0
2008 $0 0.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would authorize in certain situations a groundwater conservation district to adopt different rules for different aquifers.

The bill would create the Study Commission on Water for Environmental Flows as a 15-member commission. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would be required to provide staff support to the study commission. The study commission would be required to submit a summary report by December 1, 2004. The study commission would be abolished September 1, 2005.

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2003.


Methodology

The provision relating to requiring the TCEQ to provide staffing to the Study Commission on Water for Environmental Flows is expected to result in a cost of $15,000 annually to the TCEQ and require 0.3 additional full-time-equivalent positions.


Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:
JK, DLBa, CL, MS, TL