LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
April 18, 1995
TO: Honorable John Whitmire, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute
Committee on Natural Resources for Senate
Senate Bill No. 178
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
178 (Relating to delay of and an interim program for the vehicle
emissions inspection and maintenance program; providing
penalties.) this office has determined the following:
The bill would require the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) to operate a modified, decentralized vehicle
emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program in the state's
air quality nonattainment areas. The number of facilities that
will be authorized to perform testing will increase to as many as
2,000 in a decentralized program which will require additional
staff and associated support expenses for licensing, inspection
and oversight of facilities and certified repair technicians.
The bill would authorize the TNRCC to operate a vehicle repair
assistance program funded by a $20 fee.
A uniform fee of $12 is established for a vehicle emissions
inspection in addition to a fee for certification of test and
repair facilities to be established by rule.
The amount of the emission inspection fee available to the TNRCC
has not been determined.
The bill would repeal the $0.25 fee counties can charge a
resident for proof that they do not reside in a county where
testing is required.
The loss in fee revenue to counties is estimated to be a minimum
of $2,000,000 annually.
The operation of a modified, decentralized I/M program may result
in claims against the state for damages and other compensation by
I/M program contractors. The potential cost liability to the
state cannot be determined.
Whether the modified, decentralized I/M program provided for by
the bill will comply with the federal Clean Air Act (FCAA)
requirements cannot be determined. Failure to meet FCAA
requirements could result in federal sanctions and federal
funding losses to the state.
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 Cost to Probable Gain to Probable Cost to
Year Air Quality Fund Air Quality Fund Clean Air Fund 151
1996 $23,077,000 $23,077,000 $7,390,732
1997 23,984,000 23,984,000 6,766,732
1998 25,217,000 25,217,000 6,766,732
1999 26,551,000 26,551,000 6,766,732
2000 27,998,000 27,998,000 6,766,732
Fiscal Change in
Year Number of State
Employees from
FY 1995
1996 60.0
1997 60.0
1998 60.0
1999 60.0
2000 60.0
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, Natural Resource
Conservation Commission
LBB Staff: JK, JB, DF