TO: | Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Transportation |
FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | HB2421 by Elkins (Relating to allowing a person to register a motor vehicle when delinquent in the payment of certain civil penalties.), As Introduced |
The probable fiscal implications of this bill cannot be determined at this time due to the unavailability of data regarding the number of violations detected by a photographic enforcement system, the number of vehicles denied registration as a result of outstanding fines, and the number of fines paid as a result of denying vehicle registration. It is assumed the bill could result in an insignificant increase in revenue to the State Highway Fund and a loss of revenue deposited to the Regional Trauma Account 5137.
The bill would prohibit a county assessor-collector and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from refusing to register a motor vehicle if the owner has a delinquent civil penalty for a violation detected by a photographic traffic signal enforcement system (system).
According to DMV, as of November 2012, 45 cities contracted with the department to flag vehicle registration records. However, DMV does not know how many vehicle records are flagged for outstanding violations detected by a system, how many vehicles are denied registration as a result, or how many violations from a system are paid as a result. Because this information is unknown, the fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.
Revenue from vehicle registrations is deposited to the State Highway Fund, and revenue from photographic traffic signal enforcement system violations is divided between municipalities and the state (Regional Trauma Account No. 5137). Based on the Legislative Budget Board's analysis, the bill could result in an increase in motor vehicle registrations which would generate additional revenue for the State Highway Fund. In fiscal year 2012, $1.3 billion in revenue was deposited to the State Highway Fund from motor vehicle registration fees; the amount of revenue generated from increased motor vehicle registrations that would occur under the provisions of this bill cannot be determined but is not expected to be significant.
In fiscal year 2012, $16.7 million was deposited to the Regional Trauma Account from civil violations detected by a system. The Comptroller of Public Accounts reports the bill could reduce the collection of delinquent penalties resulting from violations detected by a system. This could reduce revenue for Regional Trauma Account No. 5137; however, the amount of any such effect cannot be determined.
Source Agencies: | 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles
|
LBB Staff: | UP, MMe, TP, AG, JI
|