LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 30, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Bob Bullock            Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney
          Lieutenant Governor                Speaker of the House
          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-Conference Committee Report
         
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