LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 14, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Carlos F. Truan, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 1276
          Committee on International Relations, Trade & Technology                              By: Lucio
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1276 ( Relating 
to permits for overweight vehicles in certain counties.) this 
office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1276-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.
         

         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
The bill provides an optional procedure for the issuance of 
a permit for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles 
carrying cargo on state, county, or municipal roads located 
in certain counties.
 
Methodolgy
 
The bill allows, as an option, for the port authority to issue 
overweight permits.  The Department of Transportation (TxDot) 
states that currently, these types of permits are issued by 
TxDOT's central permit office.  TxDOT ensures that each load 
meets federal criteria (must not be divisible into lesser loads) 
and provides designated routing to minimize damage to the infrastructure 
and provide the safest possible travel route.  TxDot stated 
that a program to automate this routing is currently underway 
by the department.  

TxDot stated that if the Transportation 
Commission did authorize the Port Authority to issue permits, 
the department could risk having federal funds sanctioned, due 
to federal statutes and rules concerning size and weight permits.
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                $0                                                                        
       1998                 0                                                                        
       2000                 0                                                                        
       2001                 0                                                                        
       2002                 0                                                                        
 
 
         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
 
          
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   601   Department of Transportation
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,TH ,ML