Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2003 by Watson (Relating to the low-income vehicle repair assistance, retrofit, and accelerated vehicle retirement program and local initiative air quality projects.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code regarding the administration of the Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Programs (LIRAP) and the Local Initiatives Projects (LIP) by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The bill would change financial assistance amounts for the LIRAP vehicle repair and vehicle replacement assistance, and would remove TCEQ's authority to set a minimum amount for LIRAP vehicle repair assistance. The bill would remove TCEQ oversight and prior review of LIP program eligibility and costs, would allow a county commissioner's court to approve LIPs without TCEQ consultation, and would remove the requirement that a county must provide a match for state funds received for LIPs. The bill would allow a participating county to use unspent money beginning the first day of the next fiscal year for the replacement and retirement of the local government vehicle fleet.
TCEQ estimates that the bill could be implemented with existing resources.
The bill would take effect immediately if the bill receives a two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, no fiscal impact to counties is anticipated, as the bill is simply modernizing the LIRAP program.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality