Honorable Gary VanDeaver, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1503 by Noble (Relating to the licensing and regulation of genetic counselors; requiring an occupational license; authorizing a fee.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1503, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
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
2026
$0
2027
$0
2028
$0
2029
$0
2030
$0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2025
2026
($74,824)
$74,824
0.5
2027
($67,980)
$67,980
0.5
2028
($67,980)
$67,980
0.5
2029
($67,980)
$67,980
0.5
2030
($67,980)
$67,980
0.5
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Occupations Code to require the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to administer and enforce the provisions of a new "Licensed Genetic Counselors" chapter as established by the bill.
The bill would establish a Licensed Genetic Counselor Advisory Board under TDLR and would require TDLR to administer and enforce the statute, evaluate applicants, provide examinations, issue licenses, conduct investigations and pursue violations of the statute, and adopt rules to establish standards of ethical practice. The bill would require TDLR to set fees in rule in amounts reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of administering the statute. The bill would not require genetic counselors to hold a license, and TDLR enforcement authority does not take effect, until September 1, 2026.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2025.
Methodology
Based upon the analysis of the TDLR, this estimate assumes the agency would require 0.5 additional full-time-equivalent positions to implement the provisions of the bill. The agency anticipates that the additional workload related to enforcement and licensing can be absorbed utilizing existing resources, but would require an additional Programmer ($50,309 each year with $15,053 in estimated benefits) to modify the agency's licensing system to accommodate a new license type and maintain the license type in the system. This estimate assumes operating expenses of $2,618 each fiscal year for the additional staff, and a one-time onboarding cost of $6,844 in fiscal year 2026.
This estimate assumes that as the proposed Section 508.105 of the bill requires TDLR to set fees in amount necessary to cover the cost of administering the chapter, the revenue generated by the agency will, at a minimum, equal the cost.
Based upon the analysis of the State Office of Administrative Hearings and the Department of Information resources, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 313 Department of Information Resources, 360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation