Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB521 by Fraser (relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization relating to the use of state water.), Committee Report 1st House, As Amended
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would authorize the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue emergency authorizations when there are emergency conditions which present an imminent threat to the public health and safety and which override the necessity to comply with established statutory procedures, and there are no feasible practicable alternatives. Current statute allows the emergency authorization to be issued for 120 days, and to be renewed once for no more than 60 days. The bill would change the maximum term of the initial emergency authorization to 270 days, and a successive extension of no longer than 90 days.
The TCEQ does not expect passage of the bill to result in a significant impact to agency workload.
Local Government Impact
The bill could have positive fiscal implications for governmental entities that apply for an emergency authorization. There may be a cost savings for entities not having to file as many applications and pay the related application fees to keep the emergency authorization effective. These savings are not expected to be significant.