LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 31, 2005

TO:	Honorable Mike Krusee, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1864 by Uresti (Relating to the designation of a school crossing zone or school crosswalk.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 541 of the Transportation Code to include a day-care center, as defined by the Human Resources Code, among the facilities included in the definition of "school crossing zone" and "school crosswalk".

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) indicates that the bill would afford day-care centers the same consideration as schools in the development of school zone speed limits. This could result in the need for placement of signalization and pavement marking for day-care facilities located on a portion of the state highway system and in cities or rural areas with populations of less than 50,000. Based on the analysis of TxDOT, it is assumed duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

It is assumed that local authorities would be responsible for erecting school-zone signage for 90 percent of the 8,889 day-care centers to which the bill would apply (assuming 10 percent would be the responsibility of TxDOT). The cost of signs would depend on the type of signs erected. A non-flashing sign would cost approximately $250 each and a flashing sign would cost approximately $10,650 each. The cost per local authority would vary depending on how many day-care centers for which the authority would be required to post signs and the types of signs posted.

Source Agencies:

601 Department of Transportation

LBB Staff:

JOB, SR, JB, TG, DLBa