Honorable Brian Birdwell, Chair, Senate Committee on Border Security
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2199 by Birdwell (relating to increasing the criminal penalty for loading certain
overweight vehicles transporting hazardous materials at a weight
that exceeds the weight limitations authorized for the vehicle.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would increase the penalty for the fine only misdemeanor offense of exceeding load limitations for a vehicle operated on a public highway to a second degree felony when the offense involves the transport of fuel or other hazardous materials in a cargo tank.
The Office of Court Administration indicates that the fiscal impact is indeterminate without data to project an estimated caseload volume. While the Comptroller of Public Accounts notes that there may be an increase in state revenue due to court costs associated with the offense, the amount of any increase cannot be estimated.
Local Government Impact
While it is assumed that any fiscal impact to units of local government associated with enforcement, prosecution, supervision, or confinement would not be significant, it would be dependent on the number of offenses committed.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety