LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 26, 2017

TO:
Honorable Geanie W. Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB862 by Bernal (Relating to the waiver of state identification fees for certain students.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The fiscal implication to the Texas Mobility Fund (Other Funds) due to the bill are indeterminate due to a lack of data on the number of homeless youth seeking a personal identification certificate or drivers license, but are not expected to be significant.

The bill would amend the Transportation Code to exempt a homeless person younger than 21 years of age from any fee for the issuance of a driver's license or the issuance, renewal, and address changes for a personal identification certificate.

Currently, youth in the foster care system are exempt from fees associated with drivers license issuance if they:
1)   Are younger than 18 years of age and are under the conservatorship of Department of
      Family Protective Services; or
2)  Are at least 18 years of age, but less than 21 years of age and reside in a foster care placement.

The bill would maintain the exemption for anyone described above, and would add homeless youth to the exemption from the fees for drivers licenses or state identification cards.

It is assumed any costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within current
resources. Driver license and state identification fees are deposited to the Texas Mobility Fund; it is estimated that an insignificant amount of revenue loss would occur dependent upon the number of homeless youth would apply for a driver's license or state identification certificate. While the total number of homeless individuals under 21 years of age that would apply for a certificate or license and who would have otherwise paid the fee for the license or certificate is unknown, the number is not expected to be significant.

Note: The bill would reduce, rescind, or repeal the dedication of a specific source or portion of
revenue dedicated to the Texas Mobility Fund. Article 3, Section 49-k, of the Texas Constitution,
specifies that while money in the Texas Mobility Fund is pledged for the payment of any
outstanding debt obligations, the Legislature may not reduce, rescind, or repeal the dedication of a
specific source or portion of revenue dedicated to the Texas Mobility Fund unless the Legislature
by law dedicates a substitute or different source of revenue that is projected by the Comptroller to be of an equal or greater value.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety, 601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:
UP, AG, AI, JAW