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