LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
February 26, 1997
TO: Honorable David Counts, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1190
Committee on Natural Resources By: Counts
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1190 ( Relating
to monitoring of water quality in watersheds and river basins.)
this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1190-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a
net impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the
biennium ending August 31, 1999.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would re-authorize funding for the Clean Rivers program,
currently set to expire August 31, 1998. The bill would amend
provisions of Chapter 26 of the Water Code relating to water
quality monitoring and assessment for the Clean Rivers program.
The bill would require the Texas Natural Resource and Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) to adopt rules setting certain program participation
requirements for river authorities.
The bill would provide
that river authorities receive adequate funding to complete
assessments. Water quality monitoring and reporting duties
would apply only to those river authorities that enter into
an agreement with TNRCC to perform those duties. The bill
would require that program funds be apportioned equitably among
river basins. The bill would also limit the use of funds for
implementation of the Clean Rivers program, and continue the
maximum allocation of ten percent of annual fee revenues for
TNRCC administrative costs.
The bill would require data
generated under the Clean Rivers program be used by TNRCC to
conduct certain water quality management activities for permit
development and review. The bill would remove the current
requirement that river authority assessments include a review
of significant regulatory and enforcement issues.
The bill
would make voluntary the existing requirements for cities with
over 5,000 in population to establish water pollution control
and abatement plans. The bill would, however, allow the TNRCC
to require cities with population of 10,000 or more which have
certain water pollution problems to establish water pollution
control and abatement programs.
This bill would take effect
September 1, 1997.
Methodolgy
This bill would make no overall change to current funding.
The bill would continue funding authority for the Clean Rivers
program at the current annual level of $5 million, allowing
TNRCC to retain no more than 10 percent for administrative costs
to implement the program. The remainder, $4.5 million, would
be used to reimburse river authorities and other regional and
local entities for the costs of conducting regional water quality
assessments.
The bill would continue to require participation
from the Soil and Water Conservation Board (the Board) in river
basin steering committees. The Board anticipates it will be
able to fulfill program requirements without additional cost.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows
Five Year Impact:
Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Probable Change in Number
Gain/(Loss) from Savings/(Cost) of State
Water Quality from Water Employees from
Account/ Quality Account/ FY 1997
GR-Dedicated GR-Dedicated
0153 0153
1998 0.0
1998 5,000,000 (5,000,000) 0.0
2000 5,000,000 (5,000,000) 0.0
2001 5,000,000 (5,000,000) 0.0
2002 5,000,000 (5,000,000) 0.0
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
This bill would continue the assessment and collection of fees
from users of water and wastewater permit holders. Based on
current fee collections, local governments pay approximately
50 percent, or $ 2.5 million, of the annual revenue of $ 5
million. The bill would continue annual reimbursements of approximately
$4.5 million to local governments for the cost of conducting
regional water quality assessments.
Source: Agencies: 580 Water Development Board
582 Natural Resources Conservation Commission
592 Soil and Water Conservation Board
LBB Staff: JK ,BB ,NT ,DM