LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
March 31, 1999
TO: Honorable Ken Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice
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.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB370, As Introduced: negative impact of $(3,995,585) 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:
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* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(3,568,168) *
* 2001 (427,417) *
* 2002 (437,579) *
* 2003 (437,579) *
* 2004 (437,579) *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Probable Change in Number of *
* Year Savings/(Cost) from Savings/(Cost) from State Employees from *
* General Revenue Fund State Highway Fund FY 1999 *
* 0001 0006 *
* 2000 $(3,568,168) $224,560 7.5 *
* 2001 (427,417) 1,142,190 7.5 *
* 2002 (437,579) 116,340 7.5 *
* 2003 (437,579) 116,340 7.5 *
* 2004 (437,579) 116,340 7.5 *
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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's 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 Commission on Public Safety would be expanded
from three to six members.
The bill would require the Commission 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 and to renew a 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 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 non-commissioned staff to inspect
commercial motor carriers.
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 renewals
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, $331,116 in subsequent years. Five additional FTEs would be
needed.
Non-commissioned Staff to Inspect Commercial Motor Vehicles
The fiscal impact is based on an estimated net cost savings of $44,912
per position (salaries, operating costs, capital and other costs) for the
first year and $3,878 per position (salaries) in subsequent years for
using non-commissioned staff to perform commercial motor vehicle
inspections. The estimate assumes 20 non-commissioned staff will replace
commissioned officers at fixed sites for a savings of $898,240 in FY2001
and $77,560 in subsequent years. The agency total of commissioned
officers would be reduced by 20.
Non-commissioned Staff to Inspect Commercial Motor Carriers.
The fiscal impact is based on estimated net cost savings of $44,912 per
position (salaries, operating costs, capital and other costs) for the
first year and $3,878 per position (salaries) in subsequent years for
using non-commissioned staff to perform inspections of commercial motor
carriers. The estimate assumes ten non-commissioned staff will replace
commissioned officers for inspections of commercial motor carriers for a
savings of $224,560 in FY2000, $243,950 in FY2001 and $38,780 in
subsequent years. The agency total of commissioned officers would be
reduced by ten.
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:
LBB Staff: JK, MD, BP, VS