LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 3, 2001
TO: Honorable Warren Chisum, Chair, House Committee on
Environmental Regulation
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2905 by Burnam (Relating to the regulation and
management of low-level radioactive waste.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB2905, As Introduced: positive impact of $5,611,490 through the *
* biennium ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* 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 Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $5,611,490 *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Probable Probable Change in *
* Year Revenue Savings/(Cost) Revenue Number of State *
* Gain/(Loss) from General Gain/(Loss) Employees from *
* from General Revenue Fund from Low Level FY 2001 *
* Revenue Fund 0001 Waste Account/ *
* 0001 GR-Dedicated *
* 0088 *
* 2002 $7,006,224 $(1,394,734) $(5,611,360) 12.0 *
* 2003 1,298,734 (1,298,734) 0 12.0 *
* 2004 1,298,734 (1,298,734) 0 12.0 *
* 2005 1,298,734 (1,298,734) 0 12.0 *
* 2006 1,298,734 (1,298,734) 0 12.0 *
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Technology Impact
The cost of acquiring personal computers and related computer equipment
for twelve new positions.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill establishes a Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority to
regulate the management of low-level radioactive waste and ensure that
the state has the necessary capacity to manage and dispose of specific
categories of low-level radioactive waste.
The bill also gives the Texas Department of Health (TDH) authority over
radioactive waste storage activities at a disposal management site, and
the transporting and packaging of radioactive waste to or from a site.
Methodology
Agency administrative costs would be funded by low level management fees.
The additional recurring cost to the state of re-establishing the Texas
Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority as a state agency is
estimated to be $1,298,734 in annual operating costs and twelve
full-time positions.
The estimated cost of acquiring and constructing a disposal site or an
assured isolation facility would be approximately $20.0 million. These
costs could be financed by bond proceeds with require annual debt service
payments. These costs are not reflected in the table above.
The bill would repeal Chapter 402 of the Health and Safety Code, which
includes the General Revenue-Dedicated Account No. 0088, Low-level
Radioactive Waste. The estimated 2001 ending balance in this account is
$5.6 million. The dedication of these funds would be removed by the
bill, thereby making the funds available to the General Revenue Fund.
Because TDH already has jurisdiction over all three of these types of
activities, this bill would have no significant fiscal impact on agency
operations.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated. The Authority shall divert fees received for economic
development projects conducted by local governments in the host county.
A county in which a disposal or an assured isolation site is proposed to
be located would incur the cost of a referendum election.
Source Agencies: 582 Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission,
501 Texas Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, CL, MF, ZS