LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              March 26, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair, House Committee on
               Transportation
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB1708  by Maxey (Relating to the maximum fee a tow truck
               may charge for a nonconsent tow;  providing civil and
               criminal penalties.), As Introduced
  
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*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB1708, 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:
  
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*Fiscal      Probable Cost from State       Change in Number of State     *
* Year             Highway Fund               Employees from FY 1999      *
*                      0006                                               *
*  2000                        $(258,514)                             3.0 *
*  2001                         (240,543)                             3.0 *
*  2002                         (240,543)                             3.0 *
*  2003                         (240,543)                             3.0 *
*  2004                         (240,543)                             3.0 *
***************************************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would set maximum fees for nonconsent tows and provide for civil
and criminal penalties.
  
  
Methodology
  
The Department of Transportation, TxDot, estimates there are 5,127 towing
companies registered with the department.  In fiscal year 1998, the
department estimated it received 2,010 inquiries concerning tow truck
operators and had 414 complaints filed against tow truck operators.
TxDot estimates that the department would receive additional inquiries
and have more complaints filed against tow truck operators and vehicle
storage facilities, pursuant to provisions of the bill, that would
require additional administrative review and on-site investigations.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, PE, ML