BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1620 By: Junell April 18, 1995 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Article 8890 (Veterinary Licensing Act), Revised Civil Statutes, Section 19, provides that the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners may establish by rule and collect reasonable and necessary fees to produce sufficient revenue to cover the costs of administering this Act. PURPOSE The bill allows the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to raise examination and license renewal fees by $200. It also provides for the allocation of the revenue to the foundation school fund and the general revenue fund. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Veterinary Licensing Act, (Article 8890 Revised Statutes) by adding Section 25. (a) Raises the fee for license renewal by $200. (b) Of each fee increase collected, $50 shall be deposited in the foundation school fund and $150 to the general revenue fund. This subsection applies to the disposition of each fee increase regardless of any other provision of the law providing for a different disposition of funds. (c) The increase in the renewal fee does not apply to: anyone exempt from paying the annual renewal fee under Section 13(f), Veterinary Licensing Fee (licensees who are on active duty with the Armed Forces who do not engage in private or civilian practice, licensees who are permanently and totally retired), and licensees who are on inactive status under Section 10B(b) of the Veterinary Licensing Act SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995; Applies only to fees paid on or after the effective date. An examination fee or license renewal fee paid before September 1, 1995, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE H.B. 1620 increased the fees for license renewal and for any examination by the Board, while C.S.H.B. 1620 only applies to license renewal fees. C.S.H.B. 1620 also exempts from paying the fee increase, licensees who are on active duty with the Armed Forces who do not engage in private or civilian practice, licensees who are permanently and totally retired, and licensees who are on inactive status under Section 10B(b) of the Veterinary Licensing Act. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Public notice was posted in accordance with the rules, and a public hearing was held on April 4, 1995. Representative Junell explained the bill. The committee considered a complete substitute by Representative Heflin. The Committee considered amendment #1 to the substitute by Representative Heflin. Without objection, the committee adopted committee amendment #1. The Chair directed the committee staff to incorporate committee amendment #1 into the substitute. Without objection, the committee adopted C.S.H.B. 1620. By a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 4 absent, the committee voted to report H.B. 1620 to the House as substituted with the recommendation that it do pass. Testimony received in favor of the bill: Donald M. Ward, representing the Texas Veterinary Medical Assn. Ellis Gilleland, representing himself