Honorable Donna Campbell, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Border Security
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1768 by Buckingham (Relating to waiving fees for an original commercial driver's license for veterans.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. The Comptroller notes the standard fee for a commercial driver's license is $60. Depending on the number of veterans who would obtain an original commercial driver's license, the bill would create a revenue loss to the Texas Mobility Fund.
This bill would amend the Transportation Code to direct the Department of Public Safety to waive the fee for an original commercial driver's license, and any applicable administrative fee, if the applicant is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces and was honorably discharged within the 365 days preceding the date of the application.
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that is projected by the Comptroller to be of a value equal to or greater than the source or amount being reduced, rescinded, or repealed.
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