LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 6, 2009

TO:
Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1867 by Anchia (Relating to requirements for businesses that offer plastic checkout bags to customers; providing civil and administrative penalties.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require that businesses with at least 51 employees that offer plastic checkout bags to customers establish a checkout bag recycling program. The recycling program would include requirements for offering a reusable bag for sale, the printing of recycling information on the bags, placement of collection bins, and maintenance of records documenting recycling efforts. The bill also would include provisions for penalties for violations. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would be charged with enforcing the provisions of the bill.

The TCEQ reports that due to the large number of businesses that would be subject to this legislation, the bill could have a significant impact to the field investigation, enforcement, legal, and Small Business and Environmental Assistance programs within the agency. However, because the bill does not mandate scheduled investigations or enforcement, this estimate assumes that the bulk of TCEQ’s compliance efforts will primarily be geared towards providing assistance. This estimate also assumes that the TCEQ would receive a minimal number of complaints or reports of violation. Therefore, no significant fiscal impact to the TCEQ is expected.


Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:
JOB, TL, SD, JRO