LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATURE 1st CALLED SESSION - 2003

July 15, 2003

TO:	Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB42 by Armbrister (Relating to the powers and duties of the Edwards Aquifer Authority.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the powers and duties of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) by (1) specifying that the EAA is not authorized to regulate land use, (2) specifying that the amount of permitted withdrawals from the aquifer applies to actual permitted withdrawals, and (3) requiring the EAA to authorize withdrawals from the San Antonio pool and the Uvalde pool under certain circumstances in which the authority currently has the option to allow those withdrawals. The bill would also address issues related to a permit holder's ability to transfer permitted water rights.

The bill would take effect immediately if it were to receive a two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect on the 91st day after the last day of the first called legislative session, Seventy-eighth Session, 2003.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JK, CL, DLBa