HB 1, Hse 2nd Rdg, Amnd #144

(1) In Article VI of the bill, in the appropriations for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (page VI-15), reduce the appropriations for Strategy A.1.1, Air Quality Assessment and Planning, by $3,221,467 out of General Revenue-Dedicated Clean Air Account No. 151 each fiscal year.

(2) In the bill pattern for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, amend Rider 23, Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program (LIRAP), (page VI-22) as follows:

23. Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program (LIRAP). Amounts appropriated above out of the Clean Air Account No. 151 in Strategy A.1.1, Air Quality Assessment and Planning, include [~~$48,297,728~~] $45,076,261 each fiscal year in estimated fee revenues from vehicle inspection and maintenance fees generated pursuant to Health and Safety Code, Sections 382.202 and 382.302, to fund the Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program (LIRAP). Out of these amounts, not more than $253,893 in each fiscal year shall be used by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for costs associated with administering the LIRAP as authorized in Health and Safety Code, Section 382.202, and all remaining funds shall be used as LIRAP grants to local governments.

Amounts appropriated above in Strategy A.1.1, Air Quality Assessment and Planning, also include $4,829,673 in each fiscal year of the 2020-21 biennium out of the Clean Air Account No. 151 to be used only for purposes authorized in Chapter 382 of the Health and Safety Code for county-implemented local initiatives projects to reduce air emissions.

Amounts appropriated above for LIRAP grants and local initiatives projects also include an estimated $2,448,268 in estimated fee revenue generated from Travis County and $1,113,280 each fiscal year in estimated fee revenue generated from Williamson County for the 2020-21 biennium. The TCEQ shall allocate, at a minimum, the estimated revenue amounts collected in each of the counties during the 2020-21 biennium to provide LIRAP grants and local initiatives projects in those counties.

In addition to the amounts appropriated above, any additional revenues from vehicle inspection and maintenance fees generated from additional counties participating in the LIRAP beginning on or after September 1, 2019, are appropriated to the TCEQ for the biennium. Such funds shall be used to provide grants to local governments and to cover administrative costs of the TCEQ in administering the LIRAP.

(3) In Article V of the bill, in the appropriations for the Department of Public Safety (page V-45), increase appropriations by $1,564,554 in general revenue each fiscal year.

(4) In the bill pattern for the Department of Public Safety, add the following new rider (page V-57):

____. Employee Retention in the Permian Basin. From amounts appropriated above, the Department of Public Safety shall allocate $1,564,554 in general revenue each fiscal year for additional compensation to agency staff employed in the Permian Basin region in an amount not to exceed 15 percent of an employee's annual salary pursuant to Government Code 659.262.

(5) In Article VI of the bill, in the appropriations for the Railroad Commission (page VI-44), increase appropriations by $455,971 in general revenue each fiscal year.

(6) In the bill pattern for the Railroad Commission, add the following new rider (page VI-49):

____. Employee Retention in the Permian Basin. From amounts appropriated above, the Railroad Commission shall allocate $455,971 in general revenue each fiscal year for additional compensation to agency staff employed in the Permian Basin region in an amount not to exceed 15 percent of an employee's annual salary pursuant to Government Code 659.262.

(7) In Article VI of the bill, in the appropriations for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (page VI-14), increase appropriations by $179,267 in general revenue each fiscal year.

(8) In the bill pattern for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, add the following new rider (page VI-27):

____. Employee Retention in the Permian Basin. From amounts appropriated above, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall allocate $179,267 in general revenue each fiscal year for additional compensation to agency staff employed in the Permian Basin region in an amount not to exceed 15 percent of an employee's annual salary pursuant to Government Code 659.262.

(9) In Article VII of the bill, in the appropriations for the Texas Department of Transportation (page VII-16), increase appropriations by $1,021,675 in general revenue each fiscal year.

(10) In the bill pattern for the Texas Department of Transportation, add the following new rider (page VI-31):

____. Employee Retention in the Permian Basin. From amounts appropriated above, the Texas Department of Transportation shall allocate $1,021,675 in general revenue each fiscal year for additional compensation to agency staff employed in the Permian Basin region in an amount not to exceed 15 percent of an employee's annual salary pursuant to Government Code 659.262.