LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
Revision 1
May 4, 1999
TO: Honorable Bob Turner, Chair, House Committee on Public
Safety
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB370 by Brown, J. E. "Buster" (Relating to the
continuation and functions of the Department of Public
Safety of the State of Texas.), Committee Report 2nd
House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB370, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: positive impact *
* of $3,612,401 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 $2,833 *
* 2001 3,609,568 *
* 2002 3,759,611 *
* 2003 3,759,611 *
* 2004 3,759,611 *
****************************************************
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 $(5,243,376) $5,246,209 32.5 *
* 2001 (1,636,641) 5,246,209 37.5 *
* 2002 (1,486,598) 5,246,209 37.5 *
* 2003 (1,486,598) 5,246,209 37.5 *
* 2004 (1,486,598) 5,246,209 37.5 *
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Technology Impact
Technology impact for the bill would total $3,460,095 in FY2000, $320,954
in FY2001, and $331,116 in subsequent years. The costs would be
incurred by Information Management Services to implement changes to the
Distributive Driver License System and to allow for electronic
transactions for identification cards and driver licenses and for
payments by credit card. Technology impact would include $2,710,000 for
hardware and software to implement the process changes and 5 additional
FTEs in Information Management Services.
Fiscal Analysis
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) would be continued through
September 1, 2009.
The bill would require the Commission on Public Safety to establish
procedures and practices for an employee to appeal a disciplinary action
and to address an employment-related grievance. The bill would allow an
employee recommended for discharge to use external mediation services.
The Commission would be required to approve all Department expenditures
of seized and forfeited assets.
The bill would establish and specify the powers and duties of the Office
of Audit and Review. The Commission would be required to establish an
Office of Internal Affairs.
The bill would modify requirements to receive or renew a personal
identification certificate or driver license. Renewals of a driver
license or personal identification certificate would be allowed by mail,
telephone, Internet, or other electronic means. The bill would authorize
the use of alternative forms of payment, including credit cards, for the
renewal of a driver license or personal identification certificate.
The bill would increase the fee for reinstatement of a driver license,
registration or non-resident operating privilege from $50 to $100.
The Department would be authorized to use non-commissioned staff to
inspect commercial motor vehicles at fixed site facilities. The
Department would be required to use a commissioned officer to inspect
commercial motor carriers if the Department determined the presence of
an officer was required to accomplish the inspection. The use of
non-commissioned staff to comply with the bill would not reduce the
number of commissioned officers.
Methodology
Employee Grievance Procedures
Estimated cost is $104,063 for the first year and $102,463 in subsequent
years for 2.5 additional FTEs. Costs for external mediation of
recommended discharges are estimated at $4,000/year (5 requests for
mediation x 8 hours per mediation x $100 per hour).
Electronic renewal of Identification Cards and Driver Licenses
The bill would require significant changes to the Distributed Driver
License System and to the mainframe applications supporting the
mainframe-based Driver License System, to provide for electronic
processing and the ability to accept credit card payments. A host-based
connection to a credit card clearinghouse would be developed. Card swipe
hardware would be installed at each clerk's station. The fund
accounting processes would require modification to track transactions
paid for by credit card. Costs are estimated at $3,460,095 in FY2000,
$320,954 in FY2001, and $331,116 in subsequent years. Five additional
FTEs would be needed.
Reinstatement Fees
An increase in fees from $50 to $100 for the reinstatement of a driver
license, registration or non-resident's operating privilege would
increase revenues to the General Fund by an estimated $5,246,209 per
year.
Non-commissioned Staff to Inspect Commercial Motor Vehicles
The fiscal impact is based on an estimated cost of $67,008 per position
(salaries, benefits, operating costs, capital and other costs) for the
first year and $34,967 per position (salaries and benefits) in subsequent
years for using non-commissioned staff to supplement commercial motor
vehicle inspections. The estimate assumes 20 non-commissioned staff will
supplement commissioned officers at fixed sites for a total cost of
$1,340,166 in FY2000 and $699,346 in subsequent years.
Non-commissioned Staff to Inspect Commercial Motor Carriers.
The fiscal impact is based on an estimated cost of $67,008 per position
(salaries, benefits, operating costs, capital and other costs) for the
first year and $34,967 per position (salaries and benefits) in subsequent
years for using non-commissioned staff to supplement inspections of
commercial motor carriers. The estimate assumes ten non-commissioned
staff will supplement commissioned officers for inspections of commercial
motor carriers for a total cost of $335,042 in FY2000, $509,878 in
FY2001 and $349,673 in subsequent years.
Office of Internal Affairs and Office of Audit and Review
These units would be formed from the current Internal Affairs, Internal
Audit, and Inspection and Planning Units of the Department.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff: JK, MD, VS