LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

Revision 1

April 26, 2007

TO:	Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB154 by Wentworth (Relating to an offense of using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Section 545.425, Transportation Code, by prohibiting the use of a wireless device by the operator of a motor vehicle unless the operator is using a hands-free device, the vehicle is stopped, if the device was used to make an emergency call to specified entities, if the operator is an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle using the wireless device while acting in an official capacity, or if the person is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate communications devices. The change in law would apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of January 1, 2008.

It is anticipated that any costs associated with enforcement would be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, DB