Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3535 by Price (Relating to the management, operation, rulemaking authority, and oversight of groundwater conservation districts.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code relating to groundwater conservation district (GCD) management plans, permits, and rules; Water Development Board (WDB) review and approval of management plans and desired future conditions; and petitions for inquiry to, and violations requiring action by, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
The WDB would be required to review GCD management plans, as described, and anticipates any costs under bill provisions could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. Similarly, the TCEQ would be required to adopt rules to implement the bill's provisions, and anticipates the costs of any duties reasonably could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives two-thirds vote of all members in both houses. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 592 Soil and Water Conservation Board