LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session May 16, 2001 TO: Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair, House Committee on Transportation FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1109 by Bernsen (Relating to the use of the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry operated by the Texas Department of Transportation.), As Engrossed ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * SB1109, As Engrossed: positive impact of $0 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 $0 * * 2003 0 * * 2004 0 * * 2005 0 * * 2006 0 * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) * * Year State Highway Fund from State Highway Fund * * 0006 0006 * * 2002 $(2,430,000) $30,200 * * 2003 (30,000) 30,200 * * 2004 (30,000) 30,200 * * 2005 (30,000) 30,200 * * 2006 (30,000) 30,200 * *************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill would amend the Transportation Code to allow an owner of a registered motor vehicle to apply to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to receive a sticker that would entitle the vehicle to have a priority in boarding the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry operated by TxDOT. The bill would require TxDOT to design a sticker, designate the windshield location for placement, and sell the sticker annually to qualified persons for a fee of $50 for a commercial motor vehicle and $30 for any other type of motor vehicle. The bill would require all fees collected to be deposited in the State Highway Fund. The bill would allow TxDOT to adopt necessary rules and would also require TxDOT to prescribe necessary forms to administer the provisions of the bill. The bill would take effect September 1, 2001. Methodology TxDOT estimates that approximately $2.4 million would be required in fiscal year 2002 for improvements to existing landings and staging area modifications that would have to be made to accommodate the priority boarding vehicles. TxDOT also estimates that an additional cost of $30,000 each year would be realized for seasonal contracting with additional off-duty police officers to work in the priority staging area. TxDOT estimates that owners of 10 commercial vehicles and owners of 990 other vehicles from the Bolivar Peninsula would purchase a sticker annually and that revenues would be generated each year in amounts of $30,200 for the State Highway Fund. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 601 Texas Department of Transportation, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, JO, RT, MW