FISCAL NOTE

House Bill 318 as introduced removes the requirement for the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board (AOWB) to transfer unspent and unencumbered funds in the AOWB Fund that exceed 25 percent of the board’s budget for the previous fiscal year. This provision could reduce potential receipts to the State General Fund by an undetermined amount based on (1) the unspent and unencumbered balance of the AOWB Fund at the end of each fiscal year and (2) the board’s prior fiscal year budget. Over the past five fiscal years, the board made one transfer to the State General Fund in the amount of $52,257 in Fiscal Year 2018.

Further, this bill (1) increases maximum the administrative fine that may be levied by the board from $1,000 to $5,000 and (2) allows the board to recover interest and the costs of hearings for any licensee or other person who violates Chapter 21A of Title 34 or the board’s rules. These provisions could increase receipts to the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board Fund by an estimated maximum of $275,000 annually based on the historical number of cases brought to the board each year, the levy of the maximum administrative fines, and the actual historical costs of each hearing.