LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 86TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 14, 2019

TO:	Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
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, homeless children or youth, and unaccompanied youth.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The fiscal implication to the Texas Mobility Fund (Other Funds) is indeterminate due to a lack of data on the number of homeless or unaccompanied youth seeking a personal identification certificate or driver license, but it is not expected to be significant.

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 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 and unaccompanied children or youth that would apply for a driver license or state identification card.

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: 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 CPA to be of a value equal to or greater than the source or amount being reduced, rescinded, or repealed.

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, CSHB 123, as substituted, 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:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 601 Department of Transportation

LBB Staff:

WP, AKi, AI, SMi, AF