TO: | Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources |
FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | SB2120 by Seliger (Relating to the management, operation, and review of groundwater conservation districts and to the potential impact of districts' rules and plans on the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer.), As Engrossed |
Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
---|---|
2010 | ($149,568) |
2011 | ($344,298) |
2012 | ($94,298) |
2013 | ($96,898) |
2014 | ($94,298) |
Fiscal Year | Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1 |
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009 |
---|---|---|
2010 | ($149,568) | 1.0 |
2011 | ($344,298) | 1.0 |
2012 | ($94,298) | 1.0 |
2013 | ($96,898) | 1.0 |
2014 | ($94,298) | 1.0 |
The bill would amend the Water Code to require the Water Development Board (TWDB) to establish a training program for members of boards of directors and general managers of groundwater conservation districts. The bill would provide the Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) the authority to take action if a groundwater conservation district amends, repeals, or adopts a rule without an approved district management plan; if the district fails to submit a district management plan or to receive certification of the plan; if a district fails to timely readopt the plan; if the Executive Administrator of TWDB determines that a readopted plan does not meet the requirements for approval, and the district has exhausted all appeals; or if a district fails to submit or receive certification of an amendment to the plan. The bill would require TWDB to conduct a review of a district management plan within 60 days of approval of the district management plan.
The bill would require 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 TWDB and University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology would assist TCEQ in conducting the study, and that TCEQ would be authorized to contract with any appropriate person for assistance to conduct the study. The bill requires TCEQ to report the results of the study to the Governor and 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.
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.
For TWDB to conduct a review of a districts management plan within 60 days of approval of the plan, it is estimated that TWDB would require an additional 1.0 FTE. The annual salary for this position would be $69,610, with estimated annual benefits costs of $19,888. Related operating, travel and equipment costs are estimated to be $10,070 in fiscal year 2010 and $4,800 in fiscal years 2011 and 2012, $7,400 in fiscal year 2013, and $4,800 in fiscal year 2014.
The study required by TCEQ would 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 TCEQ. This estimate assumes that 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
Source Agencies: | 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 308 State Auditor's Office
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LBB Staff: | JOB, SZ, ZS, AH, TP, SD
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