Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1801 by Watson (Relating to the adoption of fire hydrant requirements for a wildland-urban interface in certain municipalities.), As Engrossed
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would add Chapter 797 to Title 9 of the Health and Safety Code to provide definitions for "wildfire," "wildland" and "wildland-urban interface" and would specify that the director of the Texas A&M Forest Service is the director. The governing body of a municipality with a population of 2,500 or more located in a county with a population of more than 1 million and less than 1.5 million that contains a wildland-urban interface would be authorized to require a fire hydrant located in that municipality to conform to flow and pressure standards established by the ordinance. Based on the applicability criteria, the provisions would only apply to Westlake Hills in Travis County.
Local Government Impact
An applicable municipality that chose to install a fire hydrant could incur costs; however, the amounts would vary depending on whether or not the municipality currently has a fire hydrant and the cost of installment. It is assumed that a municipality would require a fire hydrant only if sufficient resources were available or it would not result in a negative fiscal impact; therefore, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated.