LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 8, 2009 TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB2321 by Averitt (Relating to the management of groundwater resources in the state.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide notice of priority groundwater management area (PGMA) hearings to state legislators. The bill also would clarify procedures for filling vacancies, resignations, and conflicts of interest for groundwater conservation district (GCD) directors. The bill would allow a GCD by rule to establish that the records and reports required by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) under its water well driller rules satisfy the GCD requirements for records and reports. The bill also would exempt monitoring wells from GCD permit requirements and clarify that a GCD may repay incurred creation and organization cost to governmental entities, including counties. The bill is not expected to have a significant impact on state agency operations. Local Government Impact The bill would require a district to establish by rule that records and reports for water wells, the production and use of groundwater, and driller's logs meet the requirements defined by the provisions of the bill. The bill would add a governmental entity, including a county, to the list of entities required to be reimbursed for expenses incurred for the creation of a district. The fiscal impact to local governmental entities is not anticipated to be significant. Source Agencies:452 Department of Licensing and Regulation, 455 Railroad Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality LBB Staff: JOB, TL, SD, TP LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 8, 2009 TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB2321 by Averitt (Relating to the management of groundwater resources in the state.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB2321 by Averitt (Relating to the management of groundwater resources in the state.), As Introduced 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 SB2321 by Averitt (Relating to the management of groundwater resources in the state.), As Introduced SB2321 by Averitt (Relating to the management of groundwater resources in the state.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide notice of priority groundwater management area (PGMA) hearings to state legislators. The bill also would clarify procedures for filling vacancies, resignations, and conflicts of interest for groundwater conservation district (GCD) directors. The bill would allow a GCD by rule to establish that the records and reports required by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) under its water well driller rules satisfy the GCD requirements for records and reports. The bill also would exempt monitoring wells from GCD permit requirements and clarify that a GCD may repay incurred creation and organization cost to governmental entities, including counties. The bill is not expected to have a significant impact on state agency operations. Local Government Impact The bill would require a district to establish by rule that records and reports for water wells, the production and use of groundwater, and driller's logs meet the requirements defined by the provisions of the bill. The bill would add a governmental entity, including a county, to the list of entities required to be reimbursed for expenses incurred for the creation of a district. The fiscal impact to local governmental entities is not anticipated to be significant. The bill would require a district to establish by rule that records and reports for water wells, the production and use of groundwater, and driller's logs meet the requirements defined by the provisions of the bill. The bill would add a governmental entity, including a county, to the list of entities required to be reimbursed for expenses incurred for the creation of a district. The fiscal impact to local governmental entities is not anticipated to be significant. Source Agencies: 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation, 455 Railroad Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation, 455 Railroad Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality LBB Staff: JOB, TL, SD, TP JOB, TL, SD, TP