Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2317 by Averitt (Relating to the composition, duties, recommendations, and expenses of certain entities created to study and provide advice regarding environmental flows.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code to require the Water Development Board (TWDB) to appoint members of the Environmental Flows Advisory Committee, the Science Advisory Committee, and the Basin and Bay Area Stakeholders Committee. The bill would require TWDB to establish a schedule for the development of environmental flow regime recommendations and the adoption of environmental flow standards for certain river basin and bay systems or river basins.
TWDB indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency’s existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department