Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB570 by Estes (Relating to the use of fireworks at certain Texas Department of Transportation rest areas; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Texas Transportation Commission, by order, to prohibit or restrict the use of fireworks at a state highway rest area in the unincorporated area of a county on the petition of the commissioners court of the county. The bill would require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to erect signs to provide notice of the order and require a county to pay TxDOT for the costs of designing, constructing, and erecting the signs. The bill would establish a Class C misdemeanor offense for violating an order adopted under the provisions of the bill.
Based on the information provided by the Department of Transportation, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
Local Government Impact
A county would incur costs to pay TxDOT for designing, construction, and erecting signs providing notice of an order adopted under the provisions of the bill. A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Costs associated with enforcement and prosecution could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact. In addition to the fine, punishment can include up to 180 days of deferred disposition.