LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 1, 2009

TO:	Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1445 by Bonnen (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 Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require a subdivision to conduct a coastal boundary survey and obtain the Land Commissioner’s approval prior to the construction of a shore protection structure. Under current law, a county, municipality, or a subdivision is permitted to construct or maintain a shore protection structure.
 
The bill also would require a subdivision to obtain approval of a perpetual easement for a sidewalk for pedestrian, noncommercial use across the entire length of the structure, and a public parking area sufficient for one space per 15 linear feet of the structure prior to, or in conjunction with the construction of a structure on a public beach that would interrupt a line of vegetation. The Land Commissioner would be allowed to specify certain requirements for the design and location of the structure, and the public parking area.

The General Land Office reports that it does not expect the bill's passage to result in significant costs to the agency.

Local Government Impact

The fiscal impact to local governmental entities to implement the provisions of the bill would vary depending on the number of structures an entity chose to build that would require a coastal boundary survey, and the additional requirements for a sidewalk the length of the proposed structure and a public parking area.

Source Agencies:

305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, TL, TP