LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                            February 18, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
               State Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB545  by Brown, J. E. "Buster" (Relating to the
               operation of overweight motor vehicles and the
               transportation of oversize or overweight commodities.),
               As Introduced
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would increase the fees payable to the counties for a permit to
operate overweight motor vehicles and to transport oversize or overweight
commodities through the counties. The bill would take effect September
1, 2001.  The fee structure in place prior to September 1, 2001 would
apply to applications for permits submitted prior to September 1, 2001.

According to calculations by the Texas Department of Transportation,
based on the number of permits issued in fiscal year 1999 (most recent
statistics available) in each weight tolerance category and assuming
that number would remain relatively constant, counties overall could
experience an increase in revenue in fiscal year 2002 of almost $4.8
million. The total collected in permit fees in fiscal year 1999 was
approximately $3.3 million.  Revenue gains would help offset costs of
road maintenance and repair.
  
  
Source Agencies:   601   Texas Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:         JK, RB, RT, MW, DB