TO:	Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1670 by LaMantia (Relating to required boating incident reports.), As Introduced

The bill would amend various sections of the Parks and Wildlife Code as it relates to required boating incident reports. The bill would amend Section 31.105 of the Parks and Wildlife Code to require certain marine safety enforcement officers to electronically file written reports for certain incidents.

The bill would remove language that made accident reports filed confidential and inadmissible in court as evidence and would add Section 31.1055 to require the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) or another governmental authority to release an incident report upon receipt of a written request from certain individuals or entities. When releasing these reports to radio, television, or newspaper requestors, TPWD or the governmental entity would be required to redact or withhold certain information. The bill would define how the amount that may be charged for the release of an incident report shall be calculated.

The bill would require TPWD to publish statistics derived from incident reports that relate to the number, cause, and location of the reported incidents annually at minimum.

Based upon information provided by TPWD and the Office of Court Administration, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system and the agency is anticipated. Although fees charged for the release of these reports could increase revenue to the state, the number and timing of requests and the amount ultimately charged are unknown and therefore the revenue implications of the bill cannot be determined.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.