LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATURE 1st CALLED SESSION - 2003

July 15, 2003

TO:	Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Infrastructure Development and Security
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB44 by Shapleigh (Relating to the use of the TexasOnline project in connection with the purchasing of motor vehicle inspection certificates and the sending of inspection records, reports, and information to the Department of Public Safety.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB44, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

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
2004	$0
2005	$0
2006	$0
2007	$0
2008	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings from STATE HIGHWAY FUND 6	Probable Savings/(Cost) from STATE HIGHWAY FUND 6	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004	$438,223	($126,720)	(17.0)
2005	$438,223	$0	(17.0)
2006	$438,223	$0	(17.0)
2007	$438,223	$0	(17.0)
2008	$438,223	$0	(17.0)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Transportation Code as it relates to the use of the TexasOnline project in connection with the purchasing of motor vehicle inspection certificates and the sending of inspection records, reports, and information to the Department of Public Safety.

Methodology

The bill permits the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to authorize inspection stations to purchase inspection certificates and require inspection stations to send records, reports, or information as needed through the Texas Online project.  Additionally, the bill would allow inspection stations to charge and collect an amount reasonable in proportion to the costs incurred by the inspection station in connection with the purchase of inspection certificates through the Texas Online system.

DPS reports there were 14.3 million vehicle inspection certificates sold in calendar year 2002 and estimates that the certificates sold will remain constant in the subsequent years.  Through the use of the Texas Online project by inspection stations, the DPS Vehicle Inspection Records staff would be reduced by seventeen (17) full-time-equivalent positions.  This would result in an annual personnel salary costs savings of $341,136 and an additional $97,087 costs savings in indirect personnel costs.

Technology

To implement the provisions of the bill, DPS reports it would require a modification of its internal programming that interfaces with the Texas Online E-pay system and estimates contract programmer costs for planning, design, construction, testing, and implementation of software changes to total $126,720.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

313 Department of Information Resources, 405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JK, SD, VDS, AR