LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 1, 2003

TO:	Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1152 by Puente (Relating to the authority of certain nonprofit water supply corporations and sewer service corporations to establish and enforce customer water conservation measures.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Water Code to allow nonprofit water supply corporations (WSC), except those in Harris County, to assess reasonable penalties to customers for excessive or wasteful uses of potable water. Customers would be allowed to appeal the penalty imposed by the WSC to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The bill would take effect immediately if it receives two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2003.

There is a $100 application fee for filing an appeal with TCEQ, which would offset TCEQ costs for processing appeals.

Water supply corporations created under Chapter 67, Water Code, are not a political subdivision; however, a WSC may serve a municipality. A municipality that is a WSC customer could incur costs to comply with water conservation measures, although it is anticipated that the costs would be offset by savings in water usage.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:	582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:	JK, CL, JB, DLBa