LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
April 26, 1999
TO: Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair, Senate Committee on
Natural Resources
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB 708 by Jackson (relating to the implementation and
financing of approved management plans for designated
estuaries of national significance in the state),
Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB708, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: negative impact *
* of $(5,265,952) through the biennium ending August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Net Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(2,632,976) *
* 2001 (2,632,976) *
* 2002 (2,632,976) *
* 2003 (2,632,976) *
* 2004 (2,632,976) *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 1999 *
* 0001 *
* 2000 $(2,632,976) 15.0 *
* 2001 (2,632,976) 15.0 *
* 2002 (2,632,976) 15.0 *
* 2003 (2,632,976) 15.0 *
* 2004 (2,632,976) 15.0 *
***************************************************************************
Technology Impact
The purchase of personal computers would be needed.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would designate the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) as the lead state agency for the implementation of
approved National Estuary Program conservation and management plans. The
TNRCC would be authorized to provide grant funding for implementation of
this program.
The bill would require the participation of seven other state agencies in
implementing approved conservation and management plans and would
require funding for the implementation of approved plans to be shared by
local governments in the area of the estuaries, as well as the state and
federal government.
Methodology
Currently the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) is
responsible for oversight for the two estuary programs established in
Texas: the Galveston Bay Estuary program and the Coastal Bend Bays
(Corpus Christi) program.
The level of funding and the FTEs for implementing the bill are based on
levels identified by the TNRCC as state funds necessary for implementing
the two estuary programs for the 2000-01 biennium. Annual funding is
estimated to be $1.6 million and 9 FTEs for implementing the Galveston
Bay Estuary Program and $1 million and 6 FTEs for implementing the
Coastal Bend Bays Plan. The state funds would provide for staff to
coordinate and track implementation of the plans and provide seed money
to implement the plans. Both plans are expected to receive $260,000 each
annually in federal funds. These federal funds are anticipated to
require a 25 percent state match.
No significant fiscal implication is anticipated from the participation
required by the bill from other state agencies.
Local Government Impact
There would be a fiscal impact on local governments in the areas of the
two estuary programs associated with their participation in funding the
implementation of their respective estuary programs.
Source Agencies: 455 Railroad Commission, 592 Soil and Water
Conservation Board, 580 Water Development Board,
501 Department of Health, 582 Natural Resource
Conservation Commission, 802 Parks and Wildlife
Department
LBB Staff: JK, DE, NS