LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 15, 2013

TO:
Honorable Patricia Harless, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1694 by Farrar (Relating to a prohibition on the disposal of certain used equipment at a municipal solid waste facility; creating an offense.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would prohibit a person from intentionally or knowingly disposing of "used equipment" in a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill or incinerator. The bill would define "used equipment" as equipment eligible for collection under a computer equipment manufacturer's recovery plan. The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to adopt rules prohibiting the intentional or knowing disposal of used equipment in a MSW landfill or incinerator. 
 
The bill would provide that the owner or operator of an MSW landfill or incinerator is not in violation of the disposal provision established by the bill provided that the owner or operator has: 1) made a good faith effort to comply with the disposal provision; 2) posted in a conspicuous location a sign stating that used equipment is not accepted at the facility; and 3) provided written notification to any solid waste collector registered to dispose of waste at the facility that used equipment is not accepted. The bill would provide for the imposition of administrative penalties for each item of used equipment disposed of or accepted for disposal at an MSW landfill or incinerator. 
 
The bill would require the TCEQ to adopt rules by December 31. 2013.
 
Passage of the bill is not expected to result in a significant increase in the TCEQ's workload or related costs.

Local Government Impact

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

According to the TCEQ, the bill's provisions may increase the quantity of computer equipment that is required to be recycled, and local governments with voluntary electronic recycling programs could see the costs of managing collection activities with higher volumes increase as a result. The degree of that volume increase is not expected to be significant.


Source Agencies:
582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:
UP, SZ, TL, KKR