LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 16, 1997
TO: Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1190, Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
Committee on Natural Resources By: Counts
Senate
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-Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
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, and amend provisions
in Chapter 26, Water Code, relating to water quality monitoring
and assessments for the program. The Texas Natural Resource
and Conservation Commission (TNRCC) would be required to adopt
rules concerning program participation requirements.
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 entering
into agreements with TNRCC to perform those duties. Equitable
apportionment of program funds among river basins would also
be required. Use of funds to implement of the Clean Rivers
program would be limited, and the 10 percent maximum allocation
to allow TNRCC to recover administrative costs would be continued.
The TNRCC would be required to use data generated under
the Clean Rivers program to conduct water quality management
activities. Also, the TNRCC could consolidate fees assessed
against wastewater permit holders with assessments of wastewater
inspection fees in order to recover the costs of water quality
management programs.
Existing requirements for cities over
5,000 in population to establish water pollution control and
abatement plans would become voluntary. 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 (WPCA programs).
Cities could contract with river authorities or other political
subdivisions to conduct WPCA programs. Cities and political
subdivisions with which a city contracted could obtain TNRCC
assistance to conduct their WPCA programs.
This bill would
take effect September 1, 1997.
Methodolgy
The bill would make no overall change to current funding. Funding
authority for the Clean Rivers program would continue at the
current annual level of $5 million, allowing TNRCC to retain
up to 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:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
The bill would continue the assessment and collection of fees
from users of water, as well as 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