LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 20, 2007

TO:	Honorable Kino Flores, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3601 by Swinford (Relating to contested cases involving the regulation of, and enforcement of certain laws concerning the sale or lease of motor vehicles. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Occupations Code to transfer the hearings currently held by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).

Based on information provided by SOAH and TXDOT, this analysis assumes that 7.0 FTEs and any necessary funding for salaries and operating costs related to conducting the hearings would be transferred from SOAH to TXDOT.  It is assumed that the 7.0 FTEs would be transferred for 6 administrative law judge positions and 1 administrative assistant position to implement the provisions of the bill.  This analysis assumes there would be no significant fiscal impact to the state as a result of this transfer.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 601 Department of Transportation

LBB Staff:

JOB, JRO, MW, AH