LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 11, 2003

TO:	Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1001 by Elkins (Relating to the penalty for speeding on a highway where the Texas Transportation Commission has established a speed limit for environmental purposes.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

This bill would create a maximum penalty of $25 for speeding 20 miles per hour or less over the limit on a highway where the Texas Transportation Commission has established a speed limit for environmental purposes.  The Department of Transportation indicates that the bill might have an adverse effect on federal funding if the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) questions the reduced fine schedule and its effect on the environmental speed limits in affected counties. 

Local Government Impact

The impact to local governments could be significant. Section 542.402 of the Texas Transportation Code allows fines to be used by local governments to (1) construct and maintain roads, bridges, and culverts in the municipality or county; (2) enforce laws regulating the use of highways by motor vehicles; and (3) defray the expense of county traffic officers. The bill may have a significant impact by limiting the fines imposed by local governments.

 

Harris County reported that the bill would limit its ability to collect fines from a significant source.  As all of the roads and highways in the county have been labeled by the EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as environmental speed zones, the county could stand to lose millions of dollars per year in revenues.

Source Agencies:	405 Department Of Public Safety, 601 Department Of Transportation
LBB Staff:	JK, CL, KG, VDS, AR