Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB662 by Wentworth (Relating to transmittal to the Texas Water Development Board and a local groundwater conservation district of certain information by a person applying to subdivide a tract of land.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) toestablish the appropriate form and content of certification to be attached to a subdivision plat that is filed with a city or county to provide useful groundwater information to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and any groundwater conservation district (GWD) whose boundaries encompass that tract of land. The TCEQ, in consultation with TWDB, would be directeed to adopt rules requiring owners of these tracts of land to provide information that would be useful in: performing GWD activities; conducting regional water planning; maintaining the state’s groundwater database; or conducting studies for the state related to groundwater.
The bill would result in additional enforcement responsibilities for the TCEQ. However, any increased workload is expected to be reasonably absorbed using existing agency resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality