Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB779 by Seliger (Relating to the indigent status of a person for the purposes of the driver responsibility program.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. It is unknown to what degree a court inquiry would cause a person to pursue indigent status, whether or not that person would qualify for indigent status, and in what way this would impact payment of surcharges under the Driver Responsibility Program.
The bill would authorize a court, on its own motion, to inquire whether a person would like to submit evidence to establish indigent status for purposes of the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP).
The effect such an inquiry might have on individual's decision to pursue indigent status cannot be determined. Also, since data on the financial status of DRP drivers is not available, the number of drivers who qualify, but have not applied for indigent status cannot be determined. To the extent any additional waived surcharges would have been collected, there would be a revenue loss to the General Revenue Fund and the Designated Trauma Facility and EMS Account No. 5111.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to local courts is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety