LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
May 10, 2001
TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
State Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1544 by Uher (Relating to the release of certain
personal information from motor vehicle records and
information relating to motor vehicle accident reports;
providing penalties.), As Engrossed
**************************************************************************
* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB1544, As Engrossed: positive impact of $381,792 through the *
* biennium ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* 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 *
* 2002 $190,896 *
* 2003 190,896 *
* 2004 190,896 *
* 2005 190,896 *
* 2006 190,896 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
**************************************************************************
*Fiscal Probable Revenue Probable Revenue Probable Revenue *
* Year Gain/(Loss) from Gain/(Loss) from Gain/(Loss) from *
* General Revenue Fund State Highway Fund State Highway Fund *
* 0001 0006 0006 *
* 2002 $190,896 $(45,640) $334,620 *
* 2003 190,896 (45,640) 334,620 *
* 2004 190,896 (45,640) 334,620 *
* 2005 190,896 (45,640) 334,620 *
* 2006 190,896 (45,640) 334,620 *
**************************************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would establish statutory fees for the sale of driver's license
and identification card files by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The bill would increase the fee for a copy of an accident record.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
Methodology
Currently, DPS charges 45 subscribers $1,600 for a complete file and $57
for weekly updates. The bill would raise the cost of a complete file to
$10,000 and for weekly updates to $200. DPS estimates that the current
subscribers will pay the increased fee for the weekly updates thereby
generating $334,620 in new revenue. The increase in cost for the
complete file from $1,600 to $10,000 is likely to reduce the demand for
the complete file. In fiscal year 2000, DPS sold ten complete files.
Should demand drop to zero, there would be a revenue loss of $45,640 each
fiscal year.
Currently the fees for accident records and accident report search
showing no record are $4 for the search and either $4 or $6 depending on
whether the accident record is certified or non-certified. The bill
would increase the charge for the search and non-certified record to
$10, and the charge for a certified record to $15. In fiscal year 2000,
DPS sold 18,294 non-certified records, 3,770 certified records, and
7,867 accident report searches showing no record. If these sales remain
constant, the change in the fees would generate $190,896 in new revenue
annually.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 405 Texas Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff: JK, RB, DG