Honorable Roland Gutierrez, Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1276 by Moody (Relating to waiver programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Transportation Code §372.053, Veteran Discount Program, to require a toll project entity, including the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and local toll entities under Chapter 372, to establish a waiver program that includes free use of the entity's toll roads by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered with a Purple Heart recipient specialty license plate. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2017.
TxDOT reports that bond agreements for certain toll projects owned and operated by TxDOT require waived toll fees to be repaid to the toll system. TxDOT currently receives appropriations to defray the costs of providing a toll waiver program for certain eligible veterans, which includes waived tolls for vehicles registered in Texas that display Purple Heart specialty license plates. Based on LBB's analysis of information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed any costs associated with providing a toll waiver program for vehicles displaying Purple Heart specialty license plates could be absorbed within the department's current resources.
Current provisions in Transportation Code §372.053 authorize a toll project entity to provide a toll waiver program for an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered with a Disabled Veteran, Legion of Valor, or Purple Heart specialty license plate; and authorizes the Legislature to appropriate funds from the General Revenue Fund to a toll project entity to defray the cost of providing a toll discount program for veterans.
Local Government Impact
The bill would require a local toll project entity to establish a waiver program that includes free use of the entity's toll roads by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered with a Purple Heart recipient specialty license plate. There would be revenue lost for local toll project entities that currently offer programs for discounted or free use of toll roads; however, revenue lost is not anticipated to be significant. For entities that do not offer such programs, there would be implementation costs as well as revenue lost for the program. Costs and revenue losses associated with local toll project entities that do not currently have an established waiver program are anticipated to be moderate to significant. Additionally, local authorities have bond covenants that would need to be maintained.
The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority reported no significant fiscal implication to the Authority is anticipated under the provisions of the bill.