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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Parsons DATE TYPED: 02/02/00 HB 391
SHORT TITLE: Continue "Waters" Database Work SB
ANALYST: Pickering


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01
$ 1,100.0 Non-Recurring General Fund



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Office of the State Engineer (OSE)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 391 appropriates $1,100.0 from the general fund to the Office of the State Engineer for the purpose of abstracting water right files and other related files from the Pecos River database system and converting them into the "WATERS" database; and to convert other paper files into electronic image form.



Significant Issues



According to the Office of the State Engineer, the agency has approximately 20,000 non-domestic ground water and surface water right files within the Pecos River system containing approximately 250,000 documents. If these documents could be included in the proposed database, information could be accessed in a more expeditious and timely manner by staff, the general public, and other stakeholders. In addition, the database will assist in the administration of the Pecos River Compact, regional water planning, and the adjudication of water rights.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The State Engineer will use existing budget for the entry of the data and the imaging of the documents. The $1,100.0 to be expended in fiscal year 2001 will offset the impact on the OSE's operating budget. Any unexpended or unencumbered balances remaining at the end of fiscal year 2001 will revert to the general fund.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



The OSE plans to use existing contracted personnel for the data entry and imaging of the files.



CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP



The appropriation in House Bill 391 is requested in addition to a special appropriation request of $820.0 for the continued abstraction, data entry, and imaging of water right files other than the Pecos River System.



RP/sb