LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session March 17, 1997 TO: Honorable Ron Wilson, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1391 Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures By: Torres House Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1391 ( Relating to continuing education requirements for air conditioning and refrigeration contractors.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1391-As Introduced Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net positive impact of $175,036 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium ending August 31, 1999. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. Fiscal Analysis This bill amends Section 4B, the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Law, to change continuing education requirements for air conditioning and refrigeration contractors from voluntary to mandatory in order to renew a license. The bill authorizes the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to approve continuing education courses and continuing education providers. The bill also sets the period for approval of providers as two years, with additional two year periods upon reapplication. Increases in the agency's workload are related to the registration of continuing education providers and the processing of educational credits for licensees. Methodolgy The agency assumes that the number of license holders, and those who have expired licenses that can still be renewed without retesting, is approximately 10,500. The agency also assumes that the number of license holders will continue to increase at a rate of approximately 600 per year. Beginning in fiscal year 2000, 12,300 additional pieces of mail will be received in the mail room from contractors sending proof of their continuing education courses. TDLR will assess continuing education providers a registration fee which will cover two years of approval. TDLR would also increase license renewal fees from $125 to $144 to cover the cost of tracking continuing education credits. A computer programmer would be used to write a program to keep track of continuing education hours for six months. Two FTEs would be required to implement this bill. One FTE will be responsible for curriculum monitoring; the other FTE will process increased mail from continuing education validation. TDLR assumes that 40 entities will apply as providers of continuing education courses, seminars and other qualified educational experiences. TDLR also assumes that 20 providers will apply during fiscal year 1998 and 1999 and that 20 will renew each year thereafter. TDLR will set the provider approval fee at $250 to cover administrative costs. Revenue is generated due to a license renewal increase of $29 per licensee to cover costs related to continuing education. Additional revenue would be generated from continuing education providers at $250 for registration. 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 Probable Savings/(Cost) Savings/(Cost) from General from General Revenue Fund Revenue Fund 0001 0001 1998 ($12,000) $112,300 1998 (43,364) 118,100 2000 (82,039) 123,900 2001 (69,335) 129,700 2002 (69,655) 132,600 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 $100,300 1999 74,736 2000 41,861 2001 60,365 2002 62,945 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: 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation LBB Staff: JK ,TH