LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 5, 2005

TO:	Honorable Ray Allen, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1584 by Casteel (Relating to requiring the operator of a vehicle storage facility in certain counties to accept a personal check or debit card as payment for the delivery or storage of a vehicle.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require a vehicle storage facility or a governmental vehicle storage facility located in a county with a population of 500,000 or more to accept a personal check or debit card as payment for any charges associated with delivery or storage of a vehicle. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

According to the 2000 federal census, there are seven counties with a population of 500,000 or more: Bexar, Dallas, El Paso, Harris, Hidalgo, Tarrant, and Travis. The bill would affect vehicle storage facilities used to store or park 10 or more vehicles and that is owned by the state, a county, or a municipality in the seven listed counties.

It is assumed that any additional duties and responsibilities of state agencies associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within existing state resources. 

Local Government Impact

A county or municipality would incur the cost of obtaining equipment or contracting for equipment for accepting a debit card if the government entity does not already have in place the capability of accepting a debit card. Additionally, although the acceptance of a personal check periodically results in a governmental entity having to pursue remedies when the check is returned as having insufficient funds, no significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

303 Building and Procurement Commission, 405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, DLBa, JM