SRC-VRA S.B. 288 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 288 78R10880 JJT-DBy: Armbrister Finance 4/29/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) imposes a $2.50 per ton fee at landfills throughout the state. The revenue off this fund provides the Local Councils of Government with approximately $11 million a year to use toward local waste initiatives. As proposed, S.B. 288 retains $15 million in Fund No. 5000 to continue TCEQ's ability to fund qualified projects and allows the overage to be swept into the General Fund. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. (a) Provides that notwithstanding Section 403.095, Government Code, any law adopted by the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, or any other law: (1) the sum of $15 million in solid waste disposal account No. 5000 may be used only for the purposes to which that money is dedicated by Section 361.014, Health and Safety Code, and is not available for general governmental purposes during the state fiscal biennium that ends August 31, 2005; and (2) the unobligated amounts in solid waste disposal account No. 5000 during the state fiscal biennium that ends August 31, 2005, that exceed the cumulative amount of $15 million are undedicated and available for general governmental purposes during the state fiscal biennium that ends August 31, 2005. (b) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2005. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.