LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 18, 2009 TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB2074 by Bonnen (Relating to the designation by the commissioner of the General Land Office of critical coastal erosion areas for purposes of the coastal erosion response plan.), As Engrossed No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would authorize the Land Commissioner to designate critical coastal erosion areas as part of the states coastal erosion response plan. In authorizing erosion studies and projects, the state plan would be required to ensure that benefits are balanced among areas designated by the Land Commissioner as critical coastal erosion areas. The bill would authorize the Land commissioner to conduct a coast-wide, cost-benefit analysis of coastal erosion avoidance, remediation, and planning to determine areas that should be designated as critical erosion areas. This analysis would be used to guide the distribution of state resources to maximize their effectiveness. Analyses conducted for this purpose would include historic erosion rates, area elevation, critical infrastructure, population density, economic activity, critical natural resources and human contributions to erosion in a particular segment of the Texas coast. The General Land Office reports that the cost of designating critical coastal erosion areas and conducting the cost-analysis authorized by the bill could be absorbed using existing agency resources. The agency also reports that providing the Land Commissioner with the authority to develop a cost benefit analysis of coastal erosion techniques and the ability to designate critical coastal erosion areas for the entire Texas coast could increase the effectiveness of the use of state resources. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board LBB Staff: JOB, SD, TL LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 18, 2009 TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB2074 by Bonnen (Relating to the designation by the commissioner of the General Land Office of critical coastal erosion areas for purposes of the coastal erosion response plan.), As Engrossed TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2074 by Bonnen (Relating to the designation by the commissioner of the General Land Office of critical coastal erosion areas for purposes of the coastal erosion response plan.), As Engrossed Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB2074 by Bonnen (Relating to the designation by the commissioner of the General Land Office of critical coastal erosion areas for purposes of the coastal erosion response plan.), As Engrossed HB2074 by Bonnen (Relating to the designation by the commissioner of the General Land Office of critical coastal erosion areas for purposes of the coastal erosion response plan.), As Engrossed No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would authorize the Land Commissioner to designate critical coastal erosion areas as part of the states coastal erosion response plan. In authorizing erosion studies and projects, the state plan would be required to ensure that benefits are balanced among areas designated by the Land Commissioner as critical coastal erosion areas. The bill would authorize the Land commissioner to conduct a coast-wide, cost-benefit analysis of coastal erosion avoidance, remediation, and planning to determine areas that should be designated as critical erosion areas. This analysis would be used to guide the distribution of state resources to maximize their effectiveness. Analyses conducted for this purpose would include historic erosion rates, area elevation, critical infrastructure, population density, economic activity, critical natural resources and human contributions to erosion in a particular segment of the Texas coast. The General Land Office reports that the cost of designating critical coastal erosion areas and conducting the cost-analysis authorized by the bill could be absorbed using existing agency resources. The agency also reports that providing the Land Commissioner with the authority to develop a cost benefit analysis of coastal erosion techniques and the ability to designate critical coastal erosion areas for the entire Texas coast could increase the effectiveness of the use of state resources. The bill would authorize the Land Commissioner to designate critical coastal erosion areas as part of the states coastal erosion response plan. In authorizing erosion studies and projects, the state plan would be required to ensure that benefits are balanced among areas designated by the Land Commissioner as critical coastal erosion areas. The bill would authorize the Land commissioner to conduct a coast-wide, cost-benefit analysis of coastal erosion avoidance, remediation, and planning to determine areas that should be designated as critical erosion areas. This analysis would be used to guide the distribution of state resources to maximize their effectiveness. Analyses conducted for this purpose would include historic erosion rates, area elevation, critical infrastructure, population density, economic activity, critical natural resources and human contributions to erosion in a particular segment of the Texas coast. The General Land Office reports that the cost of designating critical coastal erosion areas and conducting the cost-analysis authorized by the bill could be absorbed using existing agency resources. The agency also reports that providing the Land Commissioner with the authority to develop a cost benefit analysis of coastal erosion techniques and the ability to designate critical coastal erosion areas for the entire Texas coast could increase the effectiveness of the use of state resources. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board LBB Staff: JOB, SD, TL JOB, SD, TL