LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 21, 2009

TO:
Honorable Tommy Merritt, Chair, House Committee on Public Safety
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1317 by Wentworth (Relating to education and examination requirements for the issuance of a driver's license to certain persons. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1317, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.

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



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 Savings/(Cost) from
General Revenue Fund
1 		Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
General Revenue Fund - Driver Education Fees
1 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009
2010 ($348,598) $348,598 2.5
2011 ($178,086) $178,086 2.5
2012 ($178,086) $178,086 2.5
2013 ($178,086) $178,086 2.5
2014 ($178,086) $178,086 2.5

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would prohibit the Department of Public Safety (DPS) from issuing a driver's license to a person younger than age 25 unless the person presents a certificate indicating completion of an approved driver education course. Persons aged 17 and younger would be required to provide proof of completion of a driver education course approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

The bill would require the Commissioner of Education to establish curriculum and designate educational materials for driver education programs for both minors and adults only. The bill would permit the Commissioner to charge a fee to driver education programs to cover the expense of regulating adult-only courses approved by TEA.


Methodology

TEA estimates 2.5 additional FTEs would be required to review and approve teen and adult-only driver education programs, including online courses, according to the provisions of the bill at a cost of $187,879 in fiscal year (FY) 2010 and $167,129 in each subsequent year inclusive of salary, benefits, travel, and other operating costs. TEA estimates technology costs of $160,719 in FY 2010 and $10,957 in subsequent years. TEA estimates that fees authorized by the bill would provide sufficient revenue to offset these costs.

DPS estimates a one-time technology cost of $27,800 to modify systems to comply with the new criteria for driver applicants between age 18 and age 25 established by the bill. The agency is expected to be able to absorb this cost with existing resources.


Local Government Impact

School districts might incur some administrative costs to comply with DPS standards, but these costs are not expected to be significant.


Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 701 Central Education Agency
LBB Staff:
JOB, ESi, KJG, JSp, JGM, JSc, LG