LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 14, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Bob Bullock            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 1403, As Passed 2nd House
          Lieutenant Governor                Moncrief
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1403 ( Relating 
to the establishment and funding of a blindness education, screening, 
and treatment program.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1403-As Passed 2nd House
         
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
         
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal 
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions 
of the bill.

The bill would require the establishment and 
funding of a blindness education, screening, and treatment program. 
 The Texas Commission for the Blind must establish and implement 
this program by January 1, 1998.  The Department of Public Safety 
would collect an optional fee of $1.00 for the issuance and 
renewal of a driver's license or personal identification card 
to fund the Blindness Screening, and Treatment Program and transfer 
the revenue to the comptroller for deposit.

According to 
the Comptroller of Public Accounts, there could be a gain to 
the General Revenue Fund from the additional fee.  However, 
the specific effect is dependent on the number of people who 
would choose to pay the additional fees.  It is assumed that 
the Commission for the Blind would implement the new program 
only to the extent that funds are available from these fees.

The 
Department of Public Safety has identified costs related to 
computer programming to modify the Distributed Drivers License 
System and the Central Cash Receiving Office to implement the 
provisions of the bill.  However, the costs are not significant.

         
 
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:   318   Commission for the Blind
                                         405   Department of Public Safety
                                         304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,ER