Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB977 by Burnam (Relating to the development of a climate adaptation plan by certain entities.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require 11 state agencies and each independent organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code (Essential Organizations) to each develop, publish, and submit to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, the presiding officer of each standing committee with jurisdiction over environmental issues, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) a climate adaptation plan no later than September 1, 2012 and update the plan every four years.
The plan would provide a strategy to identify, minimize, and adequately prepare for the effects of global warming on the social, economic, and ecological systems of the state and to manage the risks associated with a changing climate. Each entity’s plan would be required to contain: a climate change vulnerability assessment; a review of existing programs in the context of anticipated climate change; specific steps necessary for entities to fulfill their missions during anticipated climate change; an analysis of the budgetary impact during the next five and ten years; potential funding sources; a statewide strategy to monitor continuing effects of climate change; and a written statement by the state climatologist regarding the adequacy of the plan's scientific basis. Each entity would be required to consider the most current assessment report created by the United State Global Change Research Program and consult with the state climatologist or certain other climate experts.
The bill's passage would likely result in various agencies hiring additional staff or contracting with consultants to implement the provisions of the bill. This analysis assumes that these costs would not be significant to any individual agency's budget and could therefore be absorbed using existing resources.
The bill would take immediate effect upon receiving two-thirds votes in each house, otherwise taking effect September 1, 2011.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 332 Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 405 Department of Public Safety, 454 Department of Insurance, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 551 Department of Agriculture, 576 Texas Forest Service, 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department