Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1676 by Hegar (Relating to the sunset review of certain river authorities.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1676, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($375,522) through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.
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
2008
($189,886)
2009
($185,636)
2010
$0
2011
$0
2012
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007
2008
($189,886)
3.0
2009
($185,636)
3.0
2010
$0
0.0
2011
$0
0.0
2012
$0
0.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Chapter 222, Water Code, to require the Sunset Advisory Commission to conduct a review of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) as though it were a state agency scheduled to be abolished September 1, 2009; however, the LCRA could not be abolished under provisions of the bill.
The bill would take effect immediately if it were to receive the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2007.
Methodology
The review would be conducted during the 2008–2009 biennium. According to he Sunset Advisory Commission, the agency would need three additional full-time equivalents to conduct the review at a cost of $185,636 per year. The agency would also incur travel costs of $4,000 because the Lower Colorado River Authority has locations throughout central and south central Texas. Production costs totaling $250 would be incurred to print and distribute reports containing the recommendations on the authority. The estimate assumes that all travel and report production would occur in fiscal year 2008. Staff, travel, and production costs are estimated based on historical costs related to similar-sized reviews.
Local Government Impact
Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House/Senate as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.