LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 11, 2003

TO:	Honorable Robert Puente, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1617 by Cook, Robby (Relating to the fees of office for a director of a groundwater conservation district.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Section 36.060(a), Water Code, to remove the cap currently set for the fees of office to which a director of a groundwater conservation district is entitled. The bill would take effect September 1, 2003.

Local Government Impact

Current statute limits fees paid to a groundwater conservation district director to no more than $9,000 annually. A director is entitled to fees of no more than $150 per day for each day spent performing the duties of a director. If the $9,000 cap is removed, the expense to the district would be an additional $150 per day of district work performed per district director. A district may include from five to 11 directors; therefore the added expense (above the current $9,000 annual cap) could range from $750 per day to $1,650 per day depending on the number of directors.

With the $9,000 annual cap, a director is limited to working 60 days per year for reimbursement, in addition to associated expenses. If one director were to perform district duties for 250 days (50 weeks of 5-day work weeks), the district would incur additional director fees of $28,500 (250 days minus current 60 day maximum = 190 days X $150).

The impact would depend on the number of days beyond 60 worked and the number of directors working more than 60 days.

Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:	JK, CL, JB, DLBa