LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
March 29, 1999
TO: Honorable Bob Turner, Chair, House Committee on Public
Safety
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2257 by Allen (Relating to the issuance by the Texas
Department of Public Safety of special permits
authorizing concealed handgun license holders and other
individuals to carry weapons in certain restricted
areas.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB2257, As Introduced: positive impact of $3,532,406 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. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Net Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $1,258,050 *
* 2001 2,274,356 *
* 2002 759,381 *
* 2003 656,096 *
* 2004 587,496 *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*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 $(643,185) $1,901,235 11.0 *
* 2001 (453,754) 2,728,110 11.0 *
* 2002 (453,754) 1,213,135 11.0 *
* 2003 (453,754) 1,109,850 11.0 *
* 2004 (453,754) 1,041,250 11.0 *
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Technology Impact
The Technology Impact would be limited to microcomputer hardware and
software.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would authorize the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to adopt
by rule a permit process to allow a concealed handgun holder or other
individual to carry a concealed handgun or any other firearm in the same
manner as provided to peace officers. The Department would be required
to determine the qualifications for each applicant, and the imposition
of costs on an applicant for a permit.
Methodology
The bill would increase the intensity of permit applicant background
investigations by uniformed officers and investigators. The Department
predicts that people who would apply for the new license would come from
the pool of applicants for the concealed handgun license and would
include a large percentage of current concealed handgun license holders,
who would either immediately apply for the new license or request the new
license when they renew.
It is estimated that 13,580 individuals would apply for or convert to a
special permit the first year the bill was implemented. For FY2001, it is
estimated that 19,487 would apply; FY 2002-8,665; FY2003-7,928; FY2004-
7,438.
The Department would need 9 additional staff to process, train, and
investigate the applicants. The rental of a private firearms range would
be necessary for the anticipated training. Two additional attorneys
would be needed to handle the additional denials, revocations,
suspensions and hearings.
The bill would generate revenue based on fees to be determined by the
Department.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK, MD