LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
March 6, 1997
TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 255, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Committee on State Affairs By: Nixon
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB255 ( Relating
to the regulation of driver's training courses and to certificates
issued on completion of such courses.) this office has detemined
the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB255-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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
Senate Bill 255 amends the Texas Driver and Traffic Safety Education
Act (TDTSEA) to include school districts in the definition of
driver education and driver safety schools, thereby requiring
public school districts with driver training programs to operate
those programs under the regulations of the TDTSEA, as well
as under the current rules of the State Board of Education and
the Texas Education Agency.
The bill authorizes the TEA
to employ as many persons as the agency deems necessary to administer
the additional regulatory authority under TDTSEA, and requires
the agency to generate fee revenue sufficient to cover the cost
of administering the Act.
TEA would establish a database
available electronically to the Department of Public Safety;
licensed driver training schools and public driver training
schools would submit student records through an Internet connection
to the database.
Methodolgy
TEA estimates that approximately 2,200 public school instructors
would apply for an instructor license and an estimated 1,000
public schools would apply for licensing, assuming they wish
to continue providing driver education courses. Under TEA requirements,
each school is required to submit a director application; a
fee is also associated with certification of additional staff
members. All 1,000 school locations are subject to inspection
prior to licensure. TEA estimates that an additional 12.3 full
time equivalents (FTEs) are needed to implement the provisions
of the bill; the total estimated cost of implementation is $850,000
in FY 1998 and $765,960 in subsequent years. The cost of the
database is estimated to be $84,000 in 1998. The bill would
allow TEA to charge up to $6 for each certificate.
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 Probable Revenue Change in Number
Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from of State
from General General Revenue Employees from
Revenue Fund Fund FY 1997
0001 0001
1998 ($850,000) $850,000 12.3
1998 (765,960) 765,960 12.3
2000 (765,960) 765,960 12.3
2001 (765,960) 765,960 12.3
2002 (765,960) 765,960 12.3
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.
The Bill requires each driver education school to electronically
submit student records to the Department of Pubic Safety via
the Internet. School districts would need to acquire Internet
connections and appropriate database software and computer equipment
if they do not already have the applicable systems. Consequently,
implementing the provisions of SB 255 would result in a cost
to local school districts which do not have the necessary equipment.
Source: Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK ,JD ,UP