LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 24, 1995 TO: Honorable Robert M. Saunders, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 2712 Committee on Land and Resource By: Kuempel Management House of Representatives Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 2712 (Relating to removing the authority of certain local governments to participate directly in regional habitat conservation plans; requiring the Parks and Wildlife Department to coordinate with governmental entities affected by the plan and to submit the plan to the legislature for review.) 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 remove the authority granted to local governments to develop, enforce, and administer a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). It would continue to allow the Parks and Wildlife Department to develop HCPs. It would require coordination with any other affected state agency or local government, and the submission of the plan to the Legislature before it is submitted to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The bill would have a fiscal impact on local governments. Regional HCPs are currently an option available to local governments to facilitate planning for economic growth in endangered species habitat. It is estimated that regional HCPs cost local entities significantly less than options consisting of many individual HCPs. The precise increase in cost to local governments from the loss of this authority cannot be determined. The Parks and Wildlife Department would need additional staff to handle the increased workload that would result if all authority for developing regional HCPs were vested with the Department. There is a potential for the Department to perform these services for local governments under contract which would allow offsetting revenue to be collected. 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 Change in Year of Game, Fish and Number of State Water Safety Employees from Account 009 FY 1995 1996 $55,636 1.0 1997 55,636 1.0 1998 107,771 2.0 1999 159,907 3.0 2000 159,907 3.0 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. Source: Natural Resources Conservation Commission, Parks and Wildlife Department LBB Staff: JK, PVT, DF