LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 17, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 2705, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
          Committee on Natural Resources                              By: Chisum
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2705 ( Relating 
to the program for the voluntary cleanup of contaminants.) this 
office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2705-Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
         

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 amend certain portions of the Health and Safety 
Code relating to participation in the Voluntary Cleanup Program. 
 Specifically, the bill would allow a person who purchased a 
site prior to September, 1, 1995 to seek release from liability 
from the cleanup of contamination under certain circumstances, 
and would allow the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission 
(TNRCC) to collect an application fee to recover oversight costs.

 
Methodolgy
 
The TNRCC would be required to review applications from persons 
seeking release from liability under the provisions of the bill, 
which would effectively establish a new certification process 
under the program.  The agency anticipates the need for annual 
operating costs of approximately $220,000 and four FTEs, however 
these costs would be recovered through application fees.

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                                                
            Hazardous and      from Hazardous     Employees from                                          
            Solid Waste        and Solid Waste    FY 1997                                                 
            Remediation Fees   Remediation Fees                                                           
            Account/           Account/                                                                   
            GR-Dedicated       GR-Dedicated                                                               
            0550               0550                                                                        
       1998          $248,729        ($248,729)               4.0                                    
       1998           221,729         (221,729)               4.0                                    
       2000           221,729         (221,729)               4.0                                    
       2001           221,729         (221,729)               4.0                                    
       2002           221,729         (221,729)               4.0                                    
 


 
         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
 
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as 
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
          
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   582   Natural Resources Conservation Commission
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,MS