LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session February 17, 1999 TO: Honorable Juan Hinojosa, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1480 by Hinojosa (Relating to the certification of bail bondsmen by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; providing a penalty.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1480, As * * Introduced: positive impact of $0 through the biennium ending * * August 31, 2001. * * * * The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal * * basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of * * the bill. * ************************************************************************** General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: **************************************************** * Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) * * Impact to General Revenue Related * * Funds * * 2000 $0 * * 2001 0 * * 2002 0 * * 2003 0 * * 2004 0 * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: ************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Probable Revenue Change in Number of * * Year Savings/(Cost) from Gain/(Loss) from State Employees from * * General Revenue Fund General Revenue Fund FY 1999 * * 0001 0001 * * 2000 $(172,748) $172,748 3.0 * * 2001 (102,748) 102,748 3.0 * * 2002 (102,748) 102,748 3.0 * * 2003 (102,748) 102,748 3.0 * * 2004 (102,748) 102,748 3.0 * ************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill would require the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to register bail bondsmen. Bondsmen would be required to pass an examination and meet continuing education requirements. The bill would set an examination fee of $100. The bill would also create the Bail Bondsman Advisory Council to serve as an advisory committee to the Department, and would allow members of the Advisory Council to be reimbursed for travel expenses at the rate of state employee reimbursement. Methodology Estimated costs include funding for TDLR to develop a new bail bondsman examination, examine applicants, and register bail bondsmen. In addition, the estimated costs include reimbursement of travel expenses for the nine members of the Bail Bondsmen Advisory Council. It is estimated that the $100 examination fee would offset part of the cost to TDLR, and that the Department would set fees for registration, renewal, and continuing education certification at a level sufficient to offset any remaining cost. It is estimated that TDLR would hire three additional employees to meet the provisions of the bill. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, MD, RT, CB