LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 1, 2009

TO:	Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1960 by Wentworth (Relating to increased oversight, openness, transparency, and accountability for water supply or sewer service corporations.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Notwithstanding other provisions of Chapter 13, Water Code, the bill would amend Subchapter C to authorize the governing body of each municipality to have exclusive original jurisdiction over all rates, operations, and services provided by a water supply or sewer service corporation within the municipality's corporate limits. The governing body of a municipality by ordinance could elect to have the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over the rates, operations, and services. TCEQ would also have exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review ordinances a municipality issues in the exercise of its original jurisdiction.

Based on analysis by TCEQ, it is assumed that costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

582 Commission on Environmental Quality

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, DB