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.