Honorable Jim Keffer, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB928 by Guillen (Relating to state and local planning for and responses to drought.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would implement recommendations in the report "Improve State and Local Drought Planning to More Effectively Manage Water Resources" in the Legislative Budget Board's Government Effectiveness and Efficiency Report, submitted to the Eighty-fourth Texas Legislature, 2015.
The bill would require the Water Conservation Advisory Council (WCAC) to monitor and develop strategies to respond to drought and recommend methodologies for conducting drought contingency plan evaluations. The bill would amend reporting requirements for the implementation of Drought Contingency Plans, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies in the plan that were implemented during any period of significant drought for the past five years, and require certain entities to review and update their plan and submit to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) every 5 years. Although TCEQ would require additional resources to review drought contingency plans, this estimate assumes such costs could be absorbed using existing resources. Wholesale or retail public water suppliers would notify TCEQ not later than 5 business days after the supplier implements changes or ceases to implement mandatory provisions in their plan. Additional drought-related information would be posted on the TCEQ website. The bill would require the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), TCEQ, and WCAC to review and update the water conservation Best Management Practices Guide and to include best management practices for drought response.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
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