LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
March 21, 1997
TO: Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 184
Committee on Finance By: Shapiro
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB184 ( Relating
to a driver's license that authorizes the operation of a motorcycle.)
this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB184-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
positive impact of $165,814 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
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to increase the
application, examination, and renewal fees for driver licenses
that include or add authorization to drive a motorcycle by $5.00.
In
addition, the bill would create a new, dedicated Motorcycle
Education Fund (account) in the General Revenue Fund. The bill
would require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to send
to the Comptroller for deposit, to the credit of the account,
$5 from each of the following increased fees: the fee for renewal
of a commercial license or learner's permit that includes authorization
to operate a motorcycle (to $45 from $40); the examination fee
for a commercial license for additional authorization to operate
a motorcycle (to $15 from $10); the fee for renewal of a driver
license that includes authorization to operate a motorcycle
(to $21 from $16); and the application fee for driver license
applicants applying for additional authorization to operate
a motorcycle (to $15 from $10).
The revenue in the newly-established
account would be dedicated to defray the cost of administering
the motorcycle operating training and safety program. The account's
unspent and unencumbered balance could be appropriated for the
motorcycle operator training and safety program or any other
purpose relating to maintaining or policing highways, supervising
traffic, or promoting safety on highways. The net gain to the
Motorcycle Education Fund would allow the Motorcycle Safety
Bureau to establish, at least, two additional training programs.
In addition, the Bureau could fully staff a second mobile training
unit to serve rural communities.
Methodolgy
The anticipated revenue gain from the bill each year was determined
by DPS as follows: There are approximately 25,000 new applicants
and 21,369 Commercial Drivers License applicants for a motorcycle
license annually that would pay the additional $5.00 required
by the bill.
To implement the additional fee, DPS Information
Management Service would have to reprogram the Distributed Drivers
License System computer. Two contract programmers would be
needed for a four month period to modify the computer system.
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 Revenue Probable
Gain/(Loss) from Savings/(Cost)
New - GR from New - GR
Dedicated - Dedicated -
Motorcycle Motorcycle
Education Fund Education Fund
Account Account
NEW-DED NEW-DED
1998 $231,845 ($297,876)
1998 231,845
2000 231,845
2001 231,845
2002 231,845
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
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 fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source: Agencies: 405 Department of Public Safety
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK ,RR ,RS