LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 27, 2009

TO:	Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1238 by Ogden (Relating to a study regarding the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer.), As Engrossed

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1238, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($300,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010	($50,000)
2011	($250,000)
2012	$0
2013	$0
2014	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2010	($50,000)
2011	($250,000)
2012	$0
2013	$0
2014	$0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to conduct a study regarding the impact on the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer of rules and plans adopted by groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) and of joint planning determinations made by GCDs in the groundwater management area planning process. The bill provides that the Water Development Board and University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology would assist the TCEQ in conducting the study, and that the TCEQ would be authorized to contract with any appropriate person for assistance to conduct the study. The bill requires the TCEQ to report the results of the study to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2012, and authorizes the TCEQ to include recommendations for legislation in the report to address any areas of concern. 

Methodology

The required study will involve detailed evaluation of: 20 Carrizo-Wilcox GCDs and a similar number of adjacent GCDs plans, rules, implementation of desired future conditions, and enforcement efforts; three Carrizo-Wilcox groundwater management areas and six adjacent groundwater management area desired future condition determinations; data and projections from ten regional water plans; data and projections from the state water plan; and any other appropriate factors determined by the TCEQ. This estimate assumes that the TCEQ would contract for the study, and that the study would cost $300,000, that the costs would be paid out of the General Revenue Fund over two years, and that a contract for the study would be executed in 2011.

This estimate assumes that any costs to the Water Development Board and the University of Texas assisting with the study could be absorbed using existing agency resources.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 580 Water Development Board, 720 The University of Texas System Administration

LBB Staff:

JOB, SD, ZS, TL