Honorable Brian Birdwell, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2196 by Hancock (relating to the identification and mapping of aggregate production operations by The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The Bureau of Economic Geology of The University of Texas at Austin is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Bureau of Economic Geology may, but is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose.
The bill would require the Bureau of Economic Geology of The University of Texas at Austin (Bureau) to conduct a study to identify locations in the state suitable for aggregate production operations and existing land uses or planning policies of political subdivisions that could result in an identified location becoming incompatible with use as an aggregate production operation.
The bill would also require the Bureau to develop and maintain a database that maps locations identified under provisions of the bill and the Water Code. The database would have to be accessible by political subdivisions. The bill also specifies the Bureau update the study and map not less than once every ten years. Under provisions of the bill, the Bureau may accept gifts, grants, and donations from
sources other than the state for the purpose of implementing this
section.
Based on information provided by The University of Texas System, the Bureau will use Institutional Funds such as gifts, grants and donations with industry partners to cover the costs for implementing the provisions of the bill. Institutional Funds are not appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, and therefore not a cost to the State.
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, 720 The University of Texas System Administration