Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2445 by Uresti (Relating to the disposal of sewage by boats.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
This bill would authorize the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue rules concerning the disposal of sewage by boats operating on the waters of this state (up to three miles from shore). Portions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code are amended providing additional enforcement guidelines for Game Wardens, allowing them to board a boat and inspect a Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) upon suspicion of illegal dumping. The bill would become effective September 1, 2009.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) reports that its law enforcement personnel, as part of their standard course of duty currently enforce the illegal dumping of sewage from boats and issue citations as appropriate. However, the agency reports that personnel currently do not board a vessel and perform an inspection of the vessel's Marine Sanitation Device(s). The agency reports that upon passage of the bill, the agency would need the equivalent of one additional Game Warden to complete these inspections at a cost of approximately $100,000 in fiscal year 2010 and $70,000 in future years. This estimate assumes that such costs could be reasonably absorbed within the TPWD's existing budget.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department