LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
February 20, 1995
TO: Honorable Ken Armbrister, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 3
Committee on State Affairs By: Bivins
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
3 (Relating to the regulation of commercial carriers; providing
civil, administrative, and criminal penalties.; ) this office has
determined the following:
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.
The bill transfers responsibilities relating to commercial
carriers from the Railroad Commission to the Department of
Transportation and sets up a system of registration and insurance
requirements for commercial carriers of property and passengers
to be administered by the Department of Transportation. The bill
also removes all regulatory authority for motor carrier
transportation from the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission.
The bill would require every commercial carrier subject to the
provisions of the bill to maintain liability and property
insurance covering every commercial vehicle operated by the
carrier.
The bill would direct the Department of Public Safety to enforce
the provisions of the bill including the adoption of safety rules
for commercial carriers consistent with federal law; allows for
the imposing of administrative penalties for safety violations
committed by a commercial carrier; and requires the Department of
Public Safety to enforce a safety audit program similar to the
federal safety audit program for commercial carriers not subject
to federal regulations.
The bill would abolish the Motor Carrier Act Enforcement Fund and
require all money in the account be transferred to the General
Revenue fund on September 1, 1995. Department of Transportation
costs are based on Comptroller estimates.
The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of
the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Probable Revenue Probable Cost to Probable Cost to
Year Savings to the the Department of the Department of
General Revenue Transportation Out Public Safety Out
Fund 001 of General of General
Revenue Fund 001 Revenue Fund 001
1996 $6,596,000 $571,000 $3,884,771
1997 6,596,000 571,000 2,762,496
1998 6,596,000 571,000 2,765,129
1999 6,596,000 571,000 2,767,763
2000 6,596,000 571,000 3,162,580
Fiscal Change in
Year Number of State
Employees from
FY 1995
1996 (25.0)
1997 (25.0)
1998 (25.0)
1999 (25.0)
2000 (25.0)
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.
The fiscal implication to units of local government cannot be
determined.
Source: Comptroller of Public Accounts, Department of Public
Safety,
Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
Standards and Education,
Department of Licensing and Regulation,
Railroad Commission, Department of Transportation
LBB Staff: JK, ML, DF