LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 25, 2011

TO:
Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
 
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB197 by West (Relating to the compulsory inspection of motor vehicles; providing penalties.), As Passed 2nd House



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB197, As Passed 2nd House: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2012 $0
2013 $0
2014 $0
2015 $0
2016 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain from
Texas Mobility Fund
365
2012 $461,000
2013 $698,000
2014 $461,000
2015 $698,000
2016 $461,000

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Transportation Code to permit the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) to impose an administrative penalty for certain violations related to motor vehicle inspection. The bill would require applications for certification as a motor vehicle inspection station in certain counties to include a surety bond of $5,000. The bill would create civil penalties for certain violations committed by inspection stations and inspectors related to motor vehicle inspections. The bill would increase certain fees associated with applications for certification as a motor vehicle inspector or inspection station. The bill would create the offense of fraudulent emissions inspection of motor vehicle. The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.

Methodology

The bill would increase the fee for certification as an inspector from $10 to $25 and increase the fee for certification as an inspection station from $30 to $100. The bill would also increase certain fees for certification as an inspection station if the inspection station had previously been convicted of certain violations.

The Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) indicates approximately 10,500 inspection stations would be subject to the $70 fee increase and 32,370 inspectors would be subject to the $15 fee increase. The inspection stations would be subject to the fee increase in fiscal year 2013 and every other year thereafter and the inspectors would be subject to the fee increase in fiscal year 2012 and every other year thereafter. CPA estimates the bill would result in a revenue gain to the Texas Mobility Fund of $461,000 in fiscal year 2012 and $698,000 in fiscal year 2013. The gain of $461,000 would continue in each subsequent even-numbered year, and the gain of $698,000 would continue in each subsequent odd-numbered year.

For this analysis it is assumed implementing the provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact on the programs and workload of State corrections agencies or on the demand for resources of those agencies.

Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, GG, ESi