Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_____________________ A PPROPRIATIONS
PPROPRIATIONS ACT
77 th Texas Legislature
upon passage of legislation authorizing the Water Development Board to make grants from the proceeds of Texas
Agricultural Water Conservation Bonds.
Provides the Water Development Board an increase of $1.9 million for wastewater improvement grants for
cities in the North Bosque River watershed.
Provides Debt Service Non-Self-Supporting Water Bonds an increase of $18.1 million in General Revenue
Funds for debt service, including a $7.7 million increase for the Economically Distressed Areas Program
(EDAP).
Natural Resources Appropriation item vetoed by Governor Perry
• TNRCC - Contingency Appropriation: S.B. 1541. Contingent upon passage of S.B. 1541, or similar
legislation relating to the permanent management of low-level radioactive waste, by the 77 th
Legislature, Regular Session, TNRCC is hereby appropriated any fee revenues generated to the Lowlevel
Radioactive Waste Account No. 88 as a result of the bill’s enactment. This appropriation shall be
used to implement the provisions of the bill. This veto action deletes a rider that was contingent upon
proposed legislation that did not pass.
Business and Economic Development
S.B. 1 recommends appropriating $13,890.8 million of All Funds for the 2002-2003 biennium for Business
and Economic Development agencies, which is an increase of $1,159.6 million, or 9.1 percent, from the
previous biennium. General Revenue and General Revenue-Dedicated Funds appropriations total
$1,573.8 million, an increase of $793.5 million, or 1 percent, when compared to the 2000–2001 biennium.
Significant budget recommendations for agencies in business and economic development functions include
the following:
Provides the Texas Aerospace Commission an increase of $1.5 million for the pursuit of spaceport
initiatives.
Provides the Texas Department of Economic Development a $3.7 million increase in General
Revenue–Dedicated Funds for economic development loan guarantees, maintenance of $54 million in
funding for the Smart Jobs Program (set to expire in December 2001), and a $1 million Federal Funds
increase for the Empowerment Zone Program.
Provides the Department of Housing and Community Affairs a $17.9 million increase (System Benefit
Funds) for the Weatherization Program.
Provides the Department of Transportation:
• An increase of $6.5 million for auto theft prevention grants.
• A $960.8 million Federal Funds increase for highway planning and construction, aviation, and
public transportation.
Senate Research Center 18