LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 19, 2015 TO: Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB521 by Fraser (Relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization relating to the use of state water.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would authorize the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue emergency authorizations when there are emergency conditions which present an imminent threat to the public health and safety and which override the necessity to comply with established statutory procedures, and there are no feasible practicable alternatives. Current statute allows the emergency authorization to be issued for 120 days, and to be renewed once for no more than 60 days. The bill would change the maximum term of the initial emergency authorization to two years, and successive extensions for no longer than one year. The TCEQ would be allowed to provide for automatic renewals of an emergency authorization for periods of up to one year each. The TCEQ does not expect passage of the bill to result in a significant impact to agency workload. Local Government Impact The bill could have positive fiscal implications for governmental entities that apply for an emergency authorization. There may be a cost savings for entities not having to file as many applications and pay the related application fees to keep the emergency authorization effective. These savings are not expected to be significant. Source Agencies:582 Commission on Environmental Quality LBB Staff: UP, SZ, TL
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 19, 2015
TO: Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB521 by Fraser (Relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization relating to the use of state water.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB521 by Fraser (Relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization relating to the use of state water.), As Introduced
Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB521 by Fraser (Relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization relating to the use of state water.), As Introduced
SB521 by Fraser (Relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization relating to the use of state water.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would authorize the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue emergency authorizations when there are emergency conditions which present an imminent threat to the public health and safety and which override the necessity to comply with established statutory procedures, and there are no feasible practicable alternatives. Current statute allows the emergency authorization to be issued for 120 days, and to be renewed once for no more than 60 days. The bill would change the maximum term of the initial emergency authorization to two years, and successive extensions for no longer than one year. The TCEQ would be allowed to provide for automatic renewals of an emergency authorization for periods of up to one year each. The TCEQ does not expect passage of the bill to result in a significant impact to agency workload.
Local Government Impact
The bill could have positive fiscal implications for governmental entities that apply for an emergency authorization. There may be a cost savings for entities not having to file as many applications and pay the related application fees to keep the emergency authorization effective. These savings are not expected to be significant.
Source Agencies: 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff: UP, SZ, TL
UP, SZ, TL