Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3167 by King, Susan (Relating to water programs administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code to allow the Water Development Board (WDB) to provide financial or technical assistance to eligible political subdivisions for the development of projects to alleviate water shortages that are a result of an emergency condition such as drought or public calamity. The WDB would expedite applications under this provision and coordinate, as needed, with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to implement bill provisions. The bill would require the WDB and the TCEQ to conduct a study of streamlining certain application and permitting processes, with the WDB required to submit an additional study on the effects of the repeal of certain legislation. The WDB would be required to submit the studies by September 1, 2014.
The WDB, TCEQ and TDA indicate that any duties necessary to implement the bill reasonably could be absorbed within each agency's existing resources. The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
This bill would provide local governments with financial assistance for water projects. Fiscal impact on local governments would vary depending on how funds are disbursed.
Source Agencies:
551 Department of Agriculture, 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality