LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session April 22, 1997 TO: Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 935 Committee on Public Health By: Maxey/et al. House Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB935 ( Relating to public access to certain information pertaining to medical practitioners.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB935-As Introduced Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net negative impact of $(1,295,167) to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium ending August 31, 1999. Fiscal Analysis The bill would amend the Medical Practice Act by requiring the Board of Medical Examiners (BME) to create a professional profile of licensed physicians. This profile would be updated annually; would be available to the public, and would be more comprehensive than the profile currently maintained by the BME. The BME would adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. Methodolgy The bill would increase the workload related to collecting additional information from the physicians, subsequent verification of information, annual profile updates, and requests for information by consumers and physicians. Such increases in workload would demand additional staff resources beyond current staff levels. The physician profile would also require computer hardware and software upgrades sufficient to meet the number and size of the profiles. Start-up costs would include $250,000 for hardware and software upgrades, $300,000 for computer programming, and 4 Administrative Technicians to enter the profile data. Although 10 FTEs would be needed the first year, 5 FTEs would be necessary in subsequent years. The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows: Five Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Change in Number Savings/(Cost) of State from General Employees from Revenue Fund FY 1997 0001 1998 ($883,199) 10.0 1998 (411,968) 5.0 2000 (416,986) 5.0 2001 (422,155) 5.0 2002 (422,155) 5.0 Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds: The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds during each of the first five years is estimated as follows: Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative) General Revenue Related Funds Funds 1998 ($883,199) 1999 (411,968) 2000 (416,986) 2001 (422,155) 2002 (422,155) Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Agencies: 405 Department of Public Safety 503 Board of Medical Examiners LBB Staff: JK ,BB ,AC