Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB636 by Springer (Relating to the fines for the operation of overweight vehicles transporting agricultural products.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Section 623.019 of the Transportation Code, relating to fines for operation of overweight vehicles transporting agricultural products.
The bill would add new Subsection (i), creating a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $25 for an overweight vehicle if the vehicle's load is primarily agricultural products in their natural state. The bill would allow for an escalation of the fine if the person has previously been found to be in violation of this subsection.
Half of the amount of the fine goes to the governmental entity collecting the fine and half to the General Revenue Fund (Fund 1). Reducing the minimum fine from a minimum of $100 for certain overweight vehicle violations would reduce the amount of revenue from those fines deposited into Fund 1; however this is not anticipated to be significant.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2015.
Local Government Impact
There could be a decrease of revenue from the reduction of the required fine amount; however, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety, 601 Department of Transportation, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles