LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 9, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 2469, As Engrossed
          Committee on State Affairs                              By: McReynolds
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2469 (  Relating 
to the operation of vehicles transporting timber or timber products 
and to the operation of vehicles transporting poles or     
 
pipe.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2469-As Engrossed
         
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.
         

         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
The bill would allow for the adjustment of axle lengths as it 
applies to the transportation of timber and timber products.
 
Methodolgy
 
The Department of Transportation (TxDot) stated that removing 
axle spacing requirements for timber hauling vehicles could 
result in greater and more frequent overstressing of the state's 
roads and bridges. The department estimates that additional 
damage would be incurred on 1,162, of the state's on system 
bridges, mostly on Farm-to-Market (FM) roads, and 7,700, or 
85 percent, of the bridges that are off state's highway system. 
TxDot estimated that more of the off system bridges would be 
impacted because they were designed and constructed for trucks 
with a maximum gross weight of 30,000 lbs.

The TxDot has 
estimated the annual on-system bridge damage cost to be $182,365 
and the off-system cost to be $320,000 for a total for both 
systems of $502,365. 
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions 
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage 
is estimated as follows:
 
Five Year Impact:
 
Fiscal Year Probable           
            Savings/(Cost)                                                                                
            from State                                                                                    
            Highway Fund                                                                                  
            0006                                                                                           
       1998        ($502,365)                                                                        
       1998         (502,365)                                                                        
       2000         (502,365)                                                                        
       2001         (502,365)                                                                        
       2002         (502,365)                                                                        
 
 
         Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
 

 
              Fiscal Year      Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
                               General Revenue Related Funds
                                             Funds
               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.
          
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government 
is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,JD ,PE ,ML