LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          April 28, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Robert M. Saunders, Chair    IN RE: Committee Substitute
         Committee on Land and Resource                         for House
         Management                             Bill No. 3226
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas







FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
3226 (relating to protection of coastal resources) this office
has determined the following:

The bill would amend Chapter 33 of the Natural Resources Code,
relating to the implementation of a coastal management plan.  The
bill amends and clarifies elements of the Coastal Management
Program and would provide exclusive definitions of coastal
natural resources as well as other specific elements of the
program. The bill would establish the coastal management program
as an ongoing, comprehensive program that would contain the
elements required for approval under the federal Coastal Zone
Management Act.  The bill also defines membership in the Coastal
Coordination Council (CCC), specifically removing the attorney
general as a member and adding  a representative of the Texas
Transportation Commission, a member of the Soil and Water
Conservation Board, a member of the Texas Water Development
Board, and additional public members, including a representative
of agriculture, appointed by the Governor.  The CCC would be
subject to the sunset statute and would be abolished in four
years unless continued as provided by that act.

The bill would define and narrow the boundaries of the coastal
area and would set criteria and thresholds for consistency review
of agency actions affecting coastal areas.  It would also
establish a procedure for Council review of agencies' proposed
actions in the coastal area.   The bill would include provisions
requiring the Council to approve policies for the coastal    




management program and could provide for enforceability of
consistency with CCC  policies.  The bill would eliminate a 
provision establishing voluntary special areas of the coast with
goals and policies applicable only to those areas. 

The General Land Office indicates that with adequate
enforceability provisions included, the program could be eligible
for up to $2.4 million in federal funding each year.  However,
such a gain cannot be assured since it would depend upon the
program's being submitted to and approved by the relevant federal
agency.


No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The fiscal implication to  units of local government cannot be
determined.


Source:   General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board
          LBB Staff: JK, KW, DF