LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 18, 2005

TO:
Honorable Joe Driver, Chair, House Committee on Law Enforcement
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1483 by Frost (Relating to the method of payment for a concealed handgun license and the fee for a duplicate or modified license.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1483, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($360,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2006 ($180,000)
2007 ($180,000)
2008 ($180,000)
2009 ($180,000)
2010 ($180,000)




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2006 ($180,000)
2007 ($180,000)
2008 ($180,000)
2009 ($180,000)
2010 ($180,000)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code as it relates to the method of payment for a concealed handgun license and the fee for a duplicate or modified license.

Section 1 of the bill would allow a person to pay a required fee by cash, credit card, or personal check.  Under current law, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) only accepts cashier's checks or money orders as methods of payment. 

Section 2 of the bill would allow DPS to revoke a license if a person submits an application fee that is dishonored or reversed.  The license holder whose license is revoked would be allowed to reapply provided the license holder pays the application fee and dishonored payment charge of $25 by cashier's check or money order. 

Section 3 of the bill would reduce the duplicate license fee to $10 from $25.

Section 4 of the bill would reduce the modified license fee to $10 from $25.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.


Methodology

Under the provisions of the bill, the duplicate and modified license fee would be reduced to $10 from $25. The Comptroller of Public Accounts assumed that 12,000 people would request either a modified or duplicate license per year resulting in a loss to the state of $180,000 (($25 - $10) X 12,000) per fiscal year. 

Technology and other operating costs to DPS would be insignificant. 

Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, VDS, SJ