LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 10, 2009

TO:
Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB161 by Ellis (Relating to specialty license plates supporting the Safe Routes to School Program.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB161, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011, if the bill is takes effect immediately; or an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011, if the effective date of the bill is September 1, 2009.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

The table below reflects an effective date of July 1, 2009 (immediate effect).



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010 $0
2011 $0
2012 $0
2013 $0
2014 $0
2015 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010 $0
2011 $0
2012 $0
2013 $0
2014 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue (Loss) from
State Highway Fund
6 		Probable Revenue Gain from
Share The Road Account
5121
2010 ($44,000) $44,000
2011 ($267,000) $267,000
2012 ($270,000) $270,000
2013 ($273,000) $273,000
2014 ($276,000) $276,000
2015 ($279,000) $279,000

The table below reflects an effective date of September 1, 2009.



Fiscal Year Probable Revenue (Loss) from
State Highway Fund
6 		Probable Revenue Gain from
Share The Road Account
5121
2010 ($267,000) $267,000
2011 ($270,000) $270,000
2012 ($273,000) $273,000
2013 ($276,000) $276,000
2014 ($279,000) $279,000

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Transportation Code to specify that the proceeds from the sale of “God Bless Texas” and “God Bless America” license plates (license plates), after deduction of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) administrative costs, are to be deposited to the credit of the Share the Road Account in the state treasury rather than the State Highway Fund. The bill would authorize the use of proceeds to support the Safe Routes to School Program of a designated statewide nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to promote bicyclist safety, education, and access or for marketing of the Safe Routes to School Program and the license plates. The bill would allow the Texas Education Agency to use proceeds from the sale of the license plates that are deposited to the Share the Road Account as a funding match for federal safe routes to school and obesity prevention programs.

 

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, 2009.


Methodology

Based on the analysis of the Comptroller, it is assumed the provisions of the bill would result in a
revenue gain to the Share the Road Account 5121 in the General Revenue Fund and a corresponding
revenue loss to the State Highway Fund (Fund 6). If the bill receives the required vote to take effect
immediately, it is assumed the bill would result in a $44,000 gain to Account 5121 and a
corresponding loss to Fund 6 in fiscal year 2009, which reflects two months of the specialty plate
revenue. If the bill takes effect on September 1, 2009, it is assumed the bill would result in a revenue
gain of $267,000 with a corresponding loss to Fund 6 beginning in fiscal year 2010, and sales of the specialty plates would increase by approximately 1.1 percent each year.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation, 701 Central Education Agency
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, MW, TG