LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
March 1, 1999
TO: Honorable Ken Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB114 by Gallegos (Relating to the standard of alcohol
concentration used in defining the term "intoxicated" for
the purposes of certain offenses involving
intoxication.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB114, As Introduced: positive impact of $592,471 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 Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $290,444 *
* 2001 302,027 *
* 2002 302,027 *
* 2003 302,027 *
* 2004 302,027 *
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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 $(99,116) $389,560 3.0 *
* 2001 (87,533) 389,560 3.0 *
* 2002 (87,533) 389,560 3.0 *
* 2003 (87,533) 389,560 3.0 *
* 2004 (87,533) 389,560 3.0 *
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Technology Impact
none
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Penal Code by lowering the current blood-alcohol
concentration level used to define "intoxicated." The bill would lower
the current blood-alcohol concentration level of .10 to .08.
The Department of Transportation estimates that Texas could be awarded up
to $12.4 million of National Highway Safety Administrative grant funding
in FY2000 for passing a .08 BAC law.
Methodology
It is estimated that there would be approximately 4,328 additional cases
or actions involving Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) convictions and
administrative hearings as a result of the bill. The estimate allows for
three additional employees to fulfill the administrative work associated
with the additional workload, as well as appropriate training and
equipment.
Based on current data, it is estimated that sixty percent of the license
suspension cases will apply for reinstatement of a driver's license
after the suspension period is completed. Each reinstatement would
result in the collection of $150 in licensing fees.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK, MD