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.