Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1987 by Menéndez (Relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and to deaf or hard of hearing driver training for peace officers; authorizing a fee.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1987, As Engrossed: a positive impact of $545,835 through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2016
$216,075
2017
$329,760
2018
$337,178
2019
$344,760
2020
$352,523
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Revenue Gain from Counties
2016
$216,075
$14,405
2017
$329,760
$21,984
2018
$337,178
$22,479
2019
$344,760
$22,984
2020
$352,523
$23,502
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Subchapter C, Chapter 504, of the Transportation Code to require the Department of Motor Vehicles to design and issue specialty license plates for a motor vehicle that is regularly operated by a person who is deaf or hard of hearing. The fee for issuance of the new specialty plate would be $8.
The bill would amend Chapter 1701 of the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, not later than March 1, 2016, to establish a statewide education and training program on procedures for interacting with drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing, including identifying specialty license plates issued to people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
The bill would take effect on January 1, 2016.
Methodology
Based on the analysis of the DMV, it is assumed approximately 43,000 eligible people would register vehicles with the new specialty license plate. The fee for the plate would be $8. Pursuant to Transportation Section 504.008, $0.50 from each fee would be credited to the counties for administrative costs. The remaining $7.50 from each fee would be deposited to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. Based on the estimates provided by the DMV, it is assumed the number of vehicles registered with the new specialty plate and the associated revenue collections would increase by 2.25 percent each year. The revenue gain for fiscal year 2016 represents eight months of collections to reflect the January 1, 2016 effective date of the bill.
Based on the information provided by the DMV and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 407 Commission on Law Enforcement, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles