Honorable Stephanie Klick, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2380 by Smith (Relating to participation by videoconference at informal proceedings of the Texas Medical Board.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2380, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted : a positive impact of $312,000 through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2022
$156,000
2023
$156,000
2024
$156,000
2025
$156,000
2026
$156,000
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings from General Revenue Fund 1
2022
$156,000
2023
$156,000
2024
$156,000
2025
$156,000
2026
$156,000
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Occupations Code to define "appear" as it relates to the Texas Medical Board's (TMB's) Informal Show Compliance (ISC) proceedings and settlement conferences. The bill would define the term so as to enable the usage of videoconference and teleconference technology during these TMB meetings.
Methodology
Based upon provisions within the bill, the Texas Medical Board (TMB) assumes that allowing the utilization of videoconference or teleconference attendance at proceedings could reduce agency travel expenditures for Board participants.
The participation of two TMB board members is statutorily required at Informal Show Compliance (ISC) proceedings. TMB reports having had 129 days of ISC proceedings in fiscal year 2018 and 136 days in fiscal year 2019. Based on this historical data, TMB anticipates approximately 130 ISC days per fiscal year for the upcoming biennium. Board members are located across the state and must travel to execute these duties, generating flight, transportation, lodging, and meal expenses which the agency is obligated to cover. TMB approximates the average expenses for both board members combined per ISC day to be $1,200. Based upon these amounts, TMB projects the reduction in travel expenditures to amount to $156,000 per fiscal year if both board members elect to participate through videoconference or teleconference.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.