LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 13, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 2088, As Engrossed
          Committee on Health & Human Services                              By: Cuellar
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2088 ( Relating 
to the regulation of certain midwives; providing administrative 
penalties.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2088-As Engrossed
         
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
         
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 would require the 
midwifery board, subject to approval by the Board of Health, 
to adopt rules prescribing standards for the practice of midwifery. 
 The bill would require the board to adopt a midwifery examination. 
The bill would identify grounds for disciplinary action, and 
would allow the board to suspend or revoke a midwife's documentation 
letter.  The bill would also allow the department to assess 
administrative penalties against persons who violate the Act 
or rules adopted under the Act.  The department would be required 
to notify the person alleged to have violated the Act.  The 
department may assess reasonable expenses and costs against 
a person if as a result of administrative hearings, an administrative 
penalty is assessed against that person.     

Methodology

According 
to the Department of Health, there would be a few hearings related 
to administrative penalties annually and the department could 
absorb any associated costs.
         
 
          
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB