LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 29, 2005

TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB312 by Deuell (Relating to the use, sale, purchase, or possession of a traffic-control signal preemption device; providing criminal penalties.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 544, Transportation Code, to create as a third degree felony the act of using, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, or possessing for use a traffic-control signal preemption device. The new section of the code would not apply to a person using such a device in the course of fulfilling their duties as a fire fighter, law enforcement officer, ambulance driver, medical personnel, or other emergency service provider or to a manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer of those devices in the course of manufacturing, selling, providing, or transporting the device to a person providing the aforementioned services.

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 696 Department of Criminal Justice

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, DLBa