SRC-JFA S.B. 1191 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1191 By: Armbrister Health & Human Services 4-1-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, under Article 4512d, V.T.C.S., the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers (board) is limited in regard to how much the board can charge for an athletic trainer examination fee, an athletic trainer license fee, and an athletic trainer annual license renewal fee. The board is not able to collect the necessary fees to administer its regulations because of such limitations imposed upon it in Article 4512d, V.T.C.S. This bill would require the board, by rule, to set fees in amounts that are reasonable and necessary to collect sufficient revenue to cover the costs of administration of Article 4512d, relating to athletic trainers. Additionally, this bill would set forth an audit of certain financial transactions of the board and the Texas Department of Health under Article 4512d. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1191 revises the fees assessed for the regulation of athletic trainers by the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers. Additionally, this bill sets forth an audit of certain financial transactions of the board and the Texas Department of Health. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers in SECTION 1 (Section 7(a), Article 4512d, V.T.C.S.) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 7, Article 4512d, V.T.C.S., as follows: Sec. 7. New heading: FEES; AUDIT. (a) Requires, rather than authorizes, the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers (board), after consultation with the commissioner of the Texas Department of Health (commissioner) or the Texas Department of Health (TDH), by rule, to set fees under this Act in amounts that are reasonable and necessary to collect sufficient revenue to cover the costs of administration of this Act, rather than to set and charge license and examination fees. Requires TDH to receive and account for fees received under this Act. Requires TDH to transmit the fees to the comptroller for deposit in a special account in the general revenue fund designated as the licensed athletic trainers account. Authorizes the money to be used in the account only for the administration of this Act. Deletes text authorizing the board not to set and charge fees that exceed certain amounts. Requires TDH to file annually with certain government officials a complete written report accounting for all funds received and disbursed by the board or TDH during the preceding fiscal year. Requires the annual report to be in the form and reported in the time provided by the General Appropriations Act. Provides that the financial transactions of the board or TDH are subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321, Government Code. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.