LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  February 25, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Ron E. Lewis, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 964
          Committee on County Affairs                              By: Kamel
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB964 ( Relating 
to county regulation of roadside vendors.) this office has detemined 
the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB964-As Introduced
         
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net 
impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium 
ending August 31, 1999.
         
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal 
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions 
of the bill.
         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
Currently, only Dallas and Harris Counties have the authority 
to regulate roadside vendors.  This bill would remove that authority 
from Harris County while extending it to the remaining counties 
in the state.

According to the Department of Transportation, 
this bill would result in a proliferation of vendors because 
it would allow their authorization.  The department believes 
that it would experience an increased workload since it would 
have to coordinate appropriate vending locations with county 
officials and vendors, increase shoulder maintenance, repair 
pavement edge drop-offs caused by vehicles leaving and entering 
the pavement, remove litter from vending locations, remove unauthorized 
signs and remove or relocate unauthorized vendors.
 
Methodolgy
 
The Department of Transportation estimates that its costs for 
litter collection would increase by $80 for each of the 278 
maintenance sections throughout the state, while costs for shoulder 
maintenance would increase by $750 per maintenance section.

Since 
this bill would take effect upon enactment, it is assumed that 
the department would incur increased maintenance costs for the 
fourth quarter of fiscal year 1997. 
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions 
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage 
is estimated as follows:
 
Six Year Impact:
 
Fiscal Year Probable           
            Savings/(Cost)                                                                                
            from State                                                                                    
            Highway Fund                                                                                  
            0006                                                                                           
       1997         ($57,685)                                                                        
       1997         (230,740)                                                                        
       1999         (230,740)                                                                        
       2000         (230,740)                                                                        
       2001         (230,740)                                                                        
       2002         (230,740)                                                                        
 
 
         Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
 
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds 
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
 
              Fiscal Year      Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
                               General Revenue Related Funds
                                             Funds
               1997                   $0
               1998                    0
               1999                    0
               2000                    0
               2001                    0
               2002                    0
 
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as 
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
          
Local governments could realize increased revenues as a result 
of this bill, since it is assumed they could charge for permits. 
 However, increased revenues would be offset by the cost of 
initiating and administering a roadside vendor regulation program.

No 
significant fiscal implication to local governments is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         601   Department of Transportation
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,TL