LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 14, 2009 TO: Honorable Frank Corte Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1561 by Aycock (Relating to discount programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Transportation Code to authorize a toll project entity to establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The bill would require the program to include free or discounted use of a an entitys toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered by a veteran of the United States armed forces who became totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related injury. The bill would authorize the legislature to appropriate funds from the General Revenue fund to defray the cost of providing free or discounted use of the entitys toll project. TxDOT indicates that the bond indenture related to the Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS) does not provide the flexibility for a toll reduction or exemption program. It is assumed General Revenue funds would be required if TxDOT were to implement the discount program on the CTTS. The fiscal implications to the state would depend on the number of eligible veterans who would register for the program and utilize the toll facilities. Based on the information provided by TxDOT on the number of vehicles registered to disabled veterans in Travis and Williamson Counties (3,378 total), it is assumed the costs to the state for implementing a discount toll program would not be significant. Local Government Impact The bill would create a Disabled Veteran Discount Program permitting certain veterans that are electronic toll collection customers to receive free or discounted use of an entity's toll project. The costs to a toll project entity would vary depending on the number of veterans that would register for the program, and the number that would use the toll projects in an area; however, some costs could be offset by state funds. Source Agencies:601 Department of Transportation LBB Staff: JOB, KK, TG, TP
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 14, 2009
TO: Honorable Frank Corte Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1561 by Aycock (Relating to discount programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Frank Corte Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs
FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1561 by Aycock (Relating to discount programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.), As Introduced
Honorable Frank Corte Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Honorable Frank Corte Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB1561 by Aycock (Relating to discount programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.), As Introduced
HB1561 by Aycock (Relating to discount programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to authorize a toll project entity to establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The bill would require the program to include free or discounted use of a an entitys toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered by a veteran of the United States armed forces who became totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related injury. The bill would authorize the legislature to appropriate funds from the General Revenue fund to defray the cost of providing free or discounted use of the entitys toll project. TxDOT indicates that the bond indenture related to the Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS) does not provide the flexibility for a toll reduction or exemption program. It is assumed General Revenue funds would be required if TxDOT were to implement the discount program on the CTTS. The fiscal implications to the state would depend on the number of eligible veterans who would register for the program and utilize the toll facilities. Based on the information provided by TxDOT on the number of vehicles registered to disabled veterans in Travis and Williamson Counties (3,378 total), it is assumed the costs to the state for implementing a discount toll program would not be significant.
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to authorize a toll project entity to establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The bill would require the program to include free or discounted use of a an entitys toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered by a veteran of the United States armed forces who became totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related injury. The bill would authorize the legislature to appropriate funds from the General Revenue fund to defray the cost of providing free or discounted use of the entitys toll project.
TxDOT indicates that the bond indenture related to the Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS) does not provide the flexibility for a toll reduction or exemption program. It is assumed General Revenue funds would be required if TxDOT were to implement the discount program on the CTTS. The fiscal implications to the state would depend on the number of eligible veterans who would register for the program and utilize the toll facilities. Based on the information provided by TxDOT on the number of vehicles registered to disabled veterans in Travis and Williamson Counties (3,378 total), it is assumed the costs to the state for implementing a discount toll program would not be significant.
Local Government Impact
The bill would create a Disabled Veteran Discount Program permitting certain veterans that are electronic toll collection customers to receive free or discounted use of an entity's toll project. The costs to a toll project entity would vary depending on the number of veterans that would register for the program, and the number that would use the toll projects in an area; however, some costs could be offset by state funds.
Source Agencies: 601 Department of Transportation
601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff: JOB, KK, TG, TP
JOB, KK, TG, TP