SRC-AMY S.B. 51 78(1)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 51
78S10516 DWS-FBy: Ogden
Infrastructure Development and Security
7/15/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 51 sets forth the appropriation of certain surcharges
collected by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and certain fees
collected by the Texas Department of Transportation to DPS to administer
the driver responsibility program and to support the reengineering of the
driver's license system. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Provides that the one percent of surcharges collected during
the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2003, by the Department
of Public Safety (DPS) under Chapter 708, Transportation Code, as added by
H.B. 3588, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, that is
deposited to the general revenue fund and dedicated to the administration
of the driver responsibility program by Section 780.002(b), Health and
Safety Code, as added by that bill, is appropriated to the DPS for the
state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2003, for the purposes of
administering the driver responsibility program operated by DPS under
Chapter 708, Transportation Code, as added by that bill.  Provides that
the number of full-time equivalent positions (FTE) indicated in DPS's bill
pattern is increased by 22 during the biennium. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that all fees collected during the state fiscal
biennium beginning September 1, 2003, by the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) under Section 502.1715, Transportation Code, as
added by H.B. 3588, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, are
appropriated to DPS for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,
2003, for the purpose of supporting the DPS's reengineering of the
driver's license system. 

SECTION 3.  Authorizes DPS, if the revenue generated under Section
502.1715, Transportation Code, as added by H.B. 3588, Acts of the 78th
Legislature, Regular Session, does not fully fund the driver's license
reengineering project and the liability insurance feasibility study as
required by that bill, to use money appropriated for lease payments to the
Master Lease Purchase Program for any purpose necessary to accomplish
these projects. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  upon passage or November 1, 2003.