LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 5, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Tom Ramsay, Chair, House Committee on County
               Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB1322  by Brimer (Relating to the regulation of signs
               and billboards located in residential areas, creating a
               penalty.), As Introduced
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The provisions of the bill would authorize a municipality to regulate the
size of a sign or billboard located in a residential area by charter or
ordinance and sets the maximum size allowable.  Provisions of the bill
would also authorize a commissioners court to regulate the size of signs
and billboards located in a residential area by order and sets the
maximum size allowable. The fine for a violation could not exceed $1,000.

The Texas Association of Counties indicated that there would be no
significant fiscal impact to the counties.  The Texas Municipal League
(TML) indicated that there would be no significant fiscal impact to
large and medium size cities; however, TML stated that small cities,
with limited police and court staff, could experience a significant
negative fiscal impact, despite the $1,000 fine potential, particularly
if a judge were not to impose a high fine or were to dismiss the
charges.  The city would have already incurred the costs of enforcement
and processing through the judicial system, regardless of the judge's
decision.
  
  
Source Agencies:   302   Office of the Attorney General
LBB Staff:         JK, DB