| TO: | Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1899 by Pickett (Relating to the posting of signs in school crossing zones regarding the prohibited use of a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.), As Passed 2nd House |
Current law requires a municipality, county or other political subdivision (political subdivision) to post a sign at each school crossing zone informing vehicle operators that the use of a wireless communication device is prohibited in the school zone. The bill would amend the Transportation Code to remove this requirement if the political subdivision instead posts signs at each highway that enters the political subdivision and on any dynamic message signs it operates that inform vehicle operators of the prohibition on the use of a wireless communication device while operating a vehicle. The bill would require a political subdivision to pay the costs associated with posting signs at highway entrances and on dynamic message signs.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported it posts signs related to the prohibition of the use of wireless communication devices in a school zone on the state highway system in cities with a population of less than 50,000 and in rural areas. TxDOT anticipates that any fiscal impact resulting from the bill would not be significant.
Political subdivisions that have existing city-wide bans on the use of wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle could experience a cost to post signs that do not currently exist at highway entrances to the political subdivision or on dynamic message boards. The extent to which a political subdivision would post new signs rather than adhere to the current requirement to post signs at school crossing zones cannot be determined and the cost to post new signs would vary depending upon the number of highway entrances into and number of dynamic message signs operated by a political subdivision.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, counties do not generally ban the use of wireless communications devices within the county limits. As a result, there will be no significant fiscal impact to counties.
| Source Agencies: | 601 Department of Transportation
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, SD, TP, KJG, JI, MM
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