LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 5, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Bob Turner, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Safety
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB3492  by Dunnam (Relating to requiring the Texas
               Department of Public Safety to establish minimum
               standards for vendors of ignition interlock devices.),
               As Introduced
  
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*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB3492, 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 Revenue         Probable        Change in Number of  *
* Year     Gain/(Loss) from    Savings/(Cost) from State Employees from  *
*        General Revenue Fund General Revenue Fund        FY 1999        *
*                0001                 0001                               *
*  2000               $146,691           $(146,691)                  2.0 *
*  2001                 78,001             (78,001)                  2.0 *
*  2002                 78,001             (78,001)                  2.0 *
*  2003                 78,001             (78,001)                  2.0 *
*  2004                 78,001             (78,001)                  2.0 *
**************************************************************************
  
Technology Impact
  
Technology Impact would be limited to microcomputers and software.
  
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to establish
rules of minimum standards for a vendor of ignition interlock devices
who conducts business in the state.  The bill would also require the
Department to establish procedures for inspecting a vendor's facilities
and for ensuring a vendor's compliance with minimum standards.

Under the bill, the Department would receive an annual written report
submitted by an ignition interlock vendor of each service and ignition
interlock device feature made available by the vendor.  The Department
would be allowed to revoke a vendor's privileges to do business in the
state if the vendor was found to have violated any laws or rules that
applied to the vendor.
  
  
Methodology
  
The Department's Blood Alcohol Testing Bureau (BATB) would need 2
additional employees to inspect ignition interlock installation
facilities.  Currently, there are 5 approved vendors and approximately
110 ignition interlock installation facilities around the state.  Both
inspectors would need to receive training from each of the five vendors
at an estimated cost of $10,000.

The estimated revenue gain for the bill for Fiscal Year 2000 is $146,691,
which is the cost of the 2 inspectors, equipment, and training.  This
cost would be reimbursed by the vendors as provided by the bill.  BATB
estimates a minimum of 2 inspections per year (110 vendor installations
X 2 inspections =220 inspections per year divided by the total cost of
$146,691 = $667 per inspection the first year).  For Fiscal Years 2001
through 2004, it is estimated that the cost for the 2 inspectors and
related expenses would be $78,001.  This cost would be divided by the
same method as that for Fiscal Year 2000, resulting in an inspection fee
to the vendor of $335.  The vendor fee for an inspection is likely to be
reduced as more installation facilities are added.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, MD