LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 1, 2003

TO:
Honorable Robert Puente, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2250 by Flores (Relating to the duties of the Rio Grande watermaster.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2250, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 $0
2005 $0
2006 $0
2007 $0
2008 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain from
WATERMASTER ADMINISTRATION
158 		Probable (Cost) from
WATERMASTER ADMINISTRATION
158 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004 $149,543 ($149,543) 2.0
2005 $106,043 ($106,043) 2.0
2006 $106,043 ($106,043) 2.0
2007 $106,043 ($106,043) 2.0
2008 $106,043 ($106,043) 2.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would provide for the Rio Grande Watermaster to administer water rights issued under a permit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for water pumped from underground reservoirs, transported via the Rio Grande, and stored in a reservoir for the delivery of water.

Methodology

Current law does not provide for the allocation of groundwater pumped into the Rio Grande by the Rio Grande Watermaster. It is expected that passage of the bill would require increased accounting duties by the Rio Grande Watermaster. It is expected that water loss computations would have to be conducted on a daily basis, requiring one additional FTE. It is also expected that an additional FTE would be needed to conduct investigations of water pumping and delivery sites along the entire river.

Additional administrative costs are expected to be offset by revenues generated from fees that would be assessed on persons contracting for the sale and purchase of water pumpted from underground reservoirs.


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, DLBa, TL