LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 11, 2011

TO:	Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB368 by Seliger (Relating to limits on the purpose of a fresh water supply district and on a district's exercise of the power of eminent domain.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Water Code to require a fresh water supply district to gain approval from the commissioners court in the county in which eminent domain authority is to be exercised if the land, easement, or other property is located more than five miles outside the district’s boundaries. The bill would specify the required approval process, including the requirement by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to review any application.

The bill would not authorize TCEQ to issue any fees related to the application process. TCEQ reported that entities filing similar applications pay a fee of $100, but the number of entities that seek this type of authorization is not expected to be significant.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

582 Commission on Environmental Quality

LBB Staff:

JOB, SZ, TP, TL