| TO: | Honorable Mike Krusee, Chair, House Committee on Transportation |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3196 by Hill (Relating to toll collection and enforcement.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to use video billing or other tolling methods to permit the registered owner of the vehicle to pay a toll for the use of a state toll project. The bill would authorize such tolls to be set at a different amount than a toll charged at the time a vehicle is driven or towed through a toll collection facility. The bill would provide private contractors under a comprehensive development agreement the same authority as TxDOT for toll collection and enforcement. The bill would authorize TxDOT to refund unexpended fund balances to a toll customer following the closure of a toll customer collection account. The bill would authorize TxDOT to enter into an agreement with a governmental or private entity regarding the use of a transponder and the corresponding toll customer collection account to pay for parking services offered by the entity. The bill would provide for the suspension and denial of vehicle registrations and drivers licenses for the nonpayment of tolls or associated administrative fees.
This analysis does not estimate revenue impacts related to toll collections or the denial of vehicle registrations or drivers license applications that may result from the implementation of the bill. Based on the analysis of TxDOT and the Department of Public Safety, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
Except as otherwise provided by the bill, the bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house or otherwise on September 1, 2007. The provisions related to the suspension or denial of drivers licenses for the nonpayment of tolls would take effect on September 1, 2007.
| Source Agencies: | 405 Department of Public Safety, 601 Department of Transportation
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, TG
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