LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session March 23, 1995 TO: Honorable Warren Chisum, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute Committee on Environmental Regulation forHouse Bill House of Representatives No. 283 Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 283 (relating to the powers and duties of certain constables to enforce environmental laws affecting the Rio Grande) this office has determined the following: The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill would allow county commissioner courts along the Rio Grande to adopt orders authorizing constables to enforce misdemeanor offenses relating to the prevention of water pollution and the preservation of water quality. The constables must have completed training given by or certified by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) prior to issuing citation(s). In addition, constables must consult with the TNRCC before issuing a citation. The TNRCC would charge a fee to local units of government equivalent to the cost of training local law enforcement staff. The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows: Fiscal Probable Cost Out Probable Revenue Change in Year of General Gain from General Number of State Revenue Fund 001 Revenue Fund 001 Employees from FY 1995 1996 $98,479 $98,479 1.5 1997 29,076 29,076 .5 1998 29,076 29,076 .5 1999 29,076 29,076 .5 2000 29,076 29,076 .5 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. The fiscal implication to units of local government cannot be determined. Source: Natural Resource Conservation Commission LBB Staff: JK, JB, DF