LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 21, 2011 TO: Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB193 by Walle (Relating to the location of water utility rate hearings conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB193, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2013. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 21, 2011 TO: Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB193 by Walle (Relating to the location of water utility rate hearings conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB193 by Walle (Relating to the location of water utility rate hearings conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.), As Introduced Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB193 by Walle (Relating to the location of water utility rate hearings conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.), As Introduced HB193 by Walle (Relating to the location of water utility rate hearings conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB193, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2013. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB193, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2013. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds 2012 $0 2013 $0 2014 $0 2015 $0 2016 $0 2012 $0 2013 $0 2014 $0 2015 $0 2016 $0 All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromWater Resource Management153 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2011 2012 ($185,432) 2.0 2013 ($177,432) 2.0 2014 ($177,432) 2.0 2015 ($177,432) 2.0 2016 ($177,432) 2.0 Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromWater Resource Management153 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2011 2012 ($185,432) 2.0 2013 ($177,432) 2.0 2014 ($177,432) 2.0 2015 ($177,432) 2.0 2016 ($177,432) 2.0 2012 ($185,432) 2.0 2013 ($177,432) 2.0 2014 ($177,432) 2.0 2015 ($177,432) 2.0 2016 ($177,432) 2.0 Fiscal Analysis The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to hold contested case hearings locally within the service area of a water utility that is the subject of the hearing. Methodology It is estimated that the TCEQ would incur rulemaking costs and increased travel costs in the agency's Utilities & Districts Section, Plan and Groundwater Review, Environmental Law Division, and the Office of Public Interest Council. It is estimated that there would be an average of 48 cases per year that would require travel to other venues outside of the agency's headquarters in Austin. Travel time for approximately 48 cases annually for four staff members is estimated to be 3,072 hours. This estimate assumes that 2.0 additional FTEs would be needed because of increased time frames for reviewing and processing of certificate and convenience and necessity cases resulting from travel times. This estimate assumes that costs of the additional FTEs and travel would be paid out of the General Revenue-Dedicated Water Resource Management Account No. 153. Local Government Impact Local governments involved in contested case hearings could experience savings because they would not be required to travel to Austin. The savings would depend on the entity's distance from Austin and the number of contested cases the entity would be involved in. Source Agencies: 582 Commission on Environmental Quality 582 Commission on Environmental Quality LBB Staff: JOB, SZ, ZS, TL JOB, SZ, ZS, TL