Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB123 by White (Relating to personal identification documents for foster children or youth or homeless children or youth.), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to exempt a foster child, a homeless child or youth, or an unaccompanied youth from any fee for the issuance of a personal identification certificate, driver license or certified copy of their record of birth.
Currently, youth in the foster care system are exempt from fees associated with driver license issuance if they:
1) Are younger than 18 years of age and are under the conservatorship of Department of Family Protective Services;
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 children or youth and unaccompanied youth to the exemption from the fees for driver licenses, state identification cards, or birth certificates.
The bill would also establish the Identification Fee Exemption Account, which would consist of grants and donations made to the Department of Public Safety for the purposes of crediting the amount from the identification fee exemption to the Texas Mobility Fund.
It is assumed any state costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within current resources.
While the total number of homeless or unaccompanied individuals under 21 years of age that would apply for a certificate or license, and who would have otherwise paid the fee, is unknown, the number is not expected to be significant.
Note: This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. Legislative policy, implemented as Government Code 403.095, consolidated special funds (except those affected by constitutional, federal, or other restrictions) into the General Revenue Fund as of August 31, 1993 and eliminated all applicable statutory revenue dedications as of August 31, 1995. Each subsequent Legislature has reviewed bills that affect funds consolidation. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, due to the high cost of the paper upon which birth certificates are issued and the loss of the collection fee that at least in part offsets these costs, the bill as engrossed, is expected to have a fiscal impact on counties. However, because the number of homeless or unaccompanied youth seeking a birth certificate is unknown, the dollar amount of this impact cannot be determined.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 601 Department of Transportation