Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1173 by Nichols (Relating to commercial driver's licenses and commercial learner's permits and the operation of commercial motor vehicles; creating a criminal offense; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1173, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2016
$0
2017
$0
2018
$0
2019
$0
2020
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain from Texas Mobility Fund 365
2016
$336,000
2017
$336,000
2018
$336,000
2019
$336,000
2020
$336,000
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to:
1) Authorize a court would to assess an administrative fee of $10 if a case involving a failure to carry a license was dismissed;
2) Set the fee amount for the issuance or renewal of a commercial learner's permit at $24 and the fee amount for the administration of a skills test to a person who is not domiciled in this state at $60;
3) Set the fee amount at $24 for a commercial learner's permit issued to certain sex offenders; and
4) Repeal a fee for renewing a license with a motorcycle authorization.
The bill would take effect January 1, 2016.
Methodology
The bill would create a fee of $24 for a commercial learner's permit. The Department of Public Safety has estimated that an average of 14,000 original commercial driver licenses are issued each year. Assuming this number of individuals seeking an original commercial driver license each year, an additional $336,000 in revenue would be generated as a result of the collection of the commercial learner's permit fee from these 14,000 individuals ($24 x 14,000 = $336,000).
The bill would also create several penalties. The Comptroller has indicated that the number of violations that would be subject to penalties under the provisions of the bill are unknown. As such, the Comptroller has indicated the fiscal impact of these penalties cannot be determined.
The Office of Court Administration states there may be an increase in administrative fees collected in cases involving a failure to carry a license that are dismissed, but is unable to determine the amount.
Local Government Impact
The Office of Court Administration (OCA) has indicated the bill would result in no significant fiscal impact to local courts. OCA noted there may be an increase in administrative fees collected in cases involving a failure to carry a license that are dismissed, but OCA is unable to determine the amount.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety