LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 8, 2013

TO:	Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee On Natural Resources
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB819 by Duncan (Relating to the disposal of demolition waste from abandoned or nuisance buildings by certain local governments.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would allow the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue a permit by rule (PBR) to enable certain counties or municipalities to dispose of demolition waste from buildings that are abandoned or found to be a nuisance. The bill would change the current population criteria from 10,000 or less to 12,000 or less. Disposal could only occur on land owned or controlled by the municipality or county, and the land would need to qualify for an arid exemption under the agency’s rules. 

Passage of the bill is not expected to have a significant impact on TCEQ's workload.

Local Government Impact

The bill would provide counties and municipalities with 12,000 or fewer inhabitants a less expensive disposal method for demolition wastes from abandoned or nuisance buildings. However, the TCEQ reports that these entities would still incur construction and operating costs for disposal sites. Entities could also be required to obtain training or hire appropriately licensed persons because of the rules for asbestos abatement.

Source Agencies:

582 Commission on Environmental Quality

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, TL