LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 29, 2005

TO:	Honorable Mike Jackson, Chair, Senate Committee on S/C on Agriculture & Coastal Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB740 by Janek (Relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to erect or maintain shore protection structures and the location of the line of vegetation in relation to those structures.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would authorize a political subdivision, other than a county or a municipality, to construct various structures to maintain shore protection along the Gulf of Mexico. The commissioner of the General Land Office would be required to first provide approval of a structure and to specify requirements for the design and location of the structure. The bill would also define where the vegetation line is established in relation to a structure and would establish that the state would retain fee title to all submerged land described by Section 11.012, Natural Resources Code. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005.

The General Land Office indicates that the administrative responsibilities that would result with enactment of the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated as a result of authority granted or an approval process implemented by provisions of the bill. Any expenses associated with construction would be a secondary fiscal impact.

Source Agencies:

305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, DLBa