LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
February 14, 1995
TO: Honorable Warren Chisum, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 283
Committee on Environmental Regulation By: Cuellar, Henry
House of Representatives
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