LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                                May 9, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
               State Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2263  by Danburg (Relating to a guide for historical
               markers along roadways in this state.), As Engrossed
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would amend the Government Code by requiring the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in consultation with the Texas
Historical Commission, to publish a guide for historical markers along
roadways with a summary and identifying numbers assigned to each marker.
The bill would require TxDOT to sell the guide to the public at a
reasonable price determined by TxDOT.  The bill would also require TxDOT
to erect and maintain signs for each marker informing users of the site
identified.  The bill would not require TxDOT to replace or change any
historical marker signs erected before the effective date of the bill
apart from normal maintenance.

TxDOT assumes all required signs would be phased in over time and that no
significant costs would be realized during any one year.  TxDOT
estimates that 100,000 copies of a guide for historical markers would
cost $336,173 during the first year and it is assumed that a similar
number of guides would be required during each subsequent year.  It is
also assumed that TxDOT would set fees to offset costs associated with
publishing and selling the guide for historical markers and that revenues
collected from the sale of the guides would be deposited to the credit
of the State Highway Fund and would be available to TxDOT as appropriated
receipts for the purpose of covering costs.

The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving the necessary
two-thirds vote in both houses.  Otherwise, the bill would take effect
September 1, 2001.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   601   Texas Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:         JK, RB, JO, RT, MW