LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 9, 2005

TO:	Honorable Robert Puente, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1670 by Cook, Robby (Relating to the resolution of conflicts between regional water plans and groundwater conservation district management plans. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Water Development Board to provide technical assistance in the resolution of the conflict between a groundwater conservation district’s groundwater conservation plan, whether the Board has certified the plan or did not certify the plan, and an approved regional water plan. The bill would provide that districts use mediation to settle such disputes.

Both the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Water Development Board could incur costs as a result of the bill's passage. The Water Development Board anticipates being required to provide assistance in response to groundwater district appeals and the OAG expects some additional litigation costs associated with the bill's passage. However, none of these costs are expected to be significant in terms of the agencies' overall budgets.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General, 580 Water Development Board

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, ZS, TL