LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 17, 2009

TO:	Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2265 by Allen (Relating to permit application requirements for solid waste facilities.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would add requirements related to the content of a solid waste permit application. The bill would require that a permit application contain a certification from the applicant that the applicant has mailed to each resident living one mile or less from the site and each community organization, nonprofit organization, or civic club located two miles or less from the site; an explanation of the site’s proposed operations; and a questionnaire seeking community comments regarding the site’s proposed operations. The bill would also require that the application contain any comments made by residents, organizations, or clubs in response to the questionnaire. The bill would only apply to an application for a permit that is submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on or after the effective date of the Act.

It is expected  that any additional workload resulting from the bill's passage could be reasonably absorbed using existing TCEQ resources.

Local Government Impact

Local governments submitting permit applications for solid waste facilities could experience an increase in costs to mail the required documentation to residents and organizations in close proximity to a planned solid waste facility, to provide a questionnaire seeking community input, and to respond to comments. These costs are not expected to be significant.

Source Agencies:

582 Commission on Environmental Quality

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, TL