| TO: | Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB691 by Hegar (Relating to the establishment of the Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Government Code to create the Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee to: serve as a catalyst for cooperation between state agencies in the area of invasive species control; facilitate governmental efforts to prevent and manage invasive species; make recommendations to state agencies regarding research, technology transfer, and management actions related to invasive species control; facilitate the exchange of information; provide a forum for developing coordinated interagency strategies and policies for invasive species control; provide technical information and input to regional and national invasive species control coordination efforts; and facilitate the review of committee technical decisions and work product by specialists and interested persons.
The Soil and Water Conservation Board indicates that they would need 1.0 additional FTE to implement the provisions of the bill, but all related costs could be absorbed by the agency.
Based on the LBB's analysis of the other affected agencies, the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
| Source Agencies: | 551 Department of Agriculture, 555 Texas AgriLife Extension Service, 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 592 Soil and Water Conservation Board, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, SD, AH, SK
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