LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session March 13, 1995 TO: Honorable David Counts, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1097 Committee on Natural Resources By: Bosse House of Representatives Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 1097 (Relating to administrative hearings for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission provided by the State Office of Administrative Hearings.) 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 transfer the functions of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's (TNRCC) Office of Hearing Examiners to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) effective January 1, 1996. The transfer of the functions of the Office of Hearing Examiners to the SOAH would result in a reduction in costs to the TNRCC. However, because there would be a corresponding increase in costs for the State Office of Administrative Hearings due to the transfer, there is no net overall fiscal impact to the state. 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 to Probable Savings Year SOAH Out of to TNRCC from General Revenue General Revenue Fund 001 Fund 001 1996 $769,048 $769,048 1997 1,153,572 1,153,572 1998 1,153,572 1,153,572 1999 1,153,572 1,153,572 2000 1,153,572 1,153,572 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No fiscal implication to the State or units of local government is anticipated. Source: State Office of Administrative Hearings, Natural Resource Conservation Commission LBB Staff: JK, JB, DF