Honorable Joe Deshotel, Chair, House Committee on Land & Resource Management
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3883 by Biedermann (Relating to development regulations for certain unincorporated areas located within the Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
There may be a revenue gain as a result of the bill, but as the amount and timing of any penalty and court costs revenue are unknown, the fiscal impact cannot be determined at this time.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to implement development regulations in counties located in the Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area; to authorize those counties to institute an infrastructure cost recovery fee; to create a civil penalty that could be imposed on counties that do not certify their compliance with the bill's provisions; and to establish criminal penalties for violating development regulations or orders to enforce same.
According to the Office of Court Administration, no significant fiscal impact to the State court system is anticipated.
According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, as the amount and timing of any penalty and court costs revenue are unknown, the fiscal impact cannot be determined.
This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Local Government Impact
The offense that would be established by the bill is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $1,000. Each day that a violation occurs would constitute a separate offense. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected cannot be estimated at this time.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Admin, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts