LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 8, 2003

TO:	Honorable Joe Nixon, Chair, House Committee on Civil Practices
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2501 by Harper-Brown (Relating to the settlement of certain claims against the Texas Department of Transportation.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Transportation Code to provide the Texas Department of Transportation with authority to settle certain liability claims under specific conditions and guidelines. The bill would establish guidelines for the settlement of claims under the bill and would apply only to a cause of action occurring on or after the effective date of the bill.  The bill would clarify that causes of action occurring before the effective date would be governed by law in effect immediately before the effective date of the bill.

               

Based on the analysis of the Texas Department of Transportation, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.  It is also assumed that any savings realized from the implementation of the bill would be used for other eligible transportation related expenditures. 

 

The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2003.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:	JK, GO, RT, RR, MW