81(R) HB 3861 - Engrossed version

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


May 12, 2009

TO:	Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources

FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB3861 by Hopson (Relating to the financing by the Texas Water Development Board of the proposed Lake Columbia reservoir project.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would enact a legislative finding that the development of the Lake Columbia reservoir project is in the public interest and that it is reasonable for the Water Development Board (TWDB) to expect that the state will recover its investment in the facility.

The bill would authorize TWDB to exercise the discretion available to include revenues from political subdivisions not currently under contract with the Angelina and Neches River Authority to participate in paying the costs of the Site Acquisition Stage of the Lake Columbia reservoir project, and political subdivisions not currently under contract to purchase a portion of the water to be supplied by the project in making the determination that it is reasonable to expect the state will recover its investment.

TWDB indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency’s existing resources.

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house; otherwise it would take effect September 1, 2009.

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.