| TO: | Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1729 by Nichols (Relating to an agreement between the Department of Public Safety and a county for the provision of renewal and duplicate driver's license and other identification certificate services; authorizing a fee. ), As Passed 2nd House |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2014 | $0 |
| 2015 | $0 |
| 2016 | $0 |
| 2017 | $0 |
| 2018 | $0 |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Savings/(Cost) from State Highway Fund 6 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | ($3,884,296) |
| 2015 | ($417,557) |
| 2016 | ($416,339) |
| 2017 | ($416,339) |
| 2018 | ($416,339) |
| Fiscal Year | Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2013 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | 2.0 |
| 2016 | 2.0 |
| 2017 | 2.0 |
| 2018 | 2.0 |
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to authorize the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to enter into agreements with certain county commissioners courts for the issuance of renewal and duplicate driver's licenses, election identification certificates, and personal identification certificates. The county officials would remit to DPS the fees collected from the issuance of renewal and duplicate driver's licenses and personal identification certificates. The county would not be allowed to administer an examination for a driver's license. The bill would stipulate that DPS must provide all the equipment, including network services, necessary to perform the services specified in the bill.
The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote of all members of each chamber; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
This estimate reflects the costs associated with DPS entering into agreements with counties as allowed by the legislation. To the extent that DPS does not enter into agreements, the costs represented here would not be realized. In addition, the revenues remitted to DPS by the counties would be to the credit of DPS under current law, and therefore are not shown in this estimate.
DPS would need to create and update program content, modify Information Technology (IT) software applications, and communicate and train agency staff. Based on information provided by DPS, it is assumed 52 counties could participate in this program for the provision of renewing or duplicate driver licenses and other identification certificate services. It is assumed the greatest cost would be in fiscal year 2014.
It is estimated that in fiscal year 2014 it will take DPS staff 80 hours to monitor, revise and otherwise implement certain requirements of the bill. The average cost per hour for DPS staff and related overhead is $40 per hour. It is assumed this DPS staff time will cost the agency $3,200 in fiscal year 2014 and beyond.
It is assumed in fiscal year 2014 that DPS will need to hire IT contractors for 777 hours for business analysis, development analysis, quality assurance, security analysis and project management for a cost of $82,385 in fiscal year 2014 only. Starting in fiscal year 2015, it is assumed the agency would require two new IT FTEs.
The bill would require $3,884,296 in fiscal year 2014 to fund the following IT and fixed equipment items at each of the 52 counties: $520,000 for installing network services; $2,340,000 for network hardware; $774,696 for fixed equipment costs, such as desktops and fingerprint scanning devices; and $249,600 to pay for monthly line charges.
The agency assumes the IT and equipment costs after fiscal year 2014 would be $249,600 per year to pay ongoing line charges.
The bill would have a significant technology-related fiscal implication for DPS.
The County and District Clerk's Association of Texas (CDCAT) reported that counties would see a fiscal loss associated with increased workloads and in some cases new workspace to comply with the requirements of the bill. CDCAT estimates times of one hour or more per transaction, at $12 per hour, which would only be partially offset by the $5 fee. Number of transactions, and consequently fiscal impact, would vary.
| Source Agencies: | 405 Department of Public Safety, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
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| LBB Staff: | UP, ESi, JAW, AI, AG, KKR
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