LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 16, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 2481
          Committee on Public Health                              By: Swinford
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2481 ( Relating 
to faith-based chemical dependency treatment programs and counselors.) 
this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2481-As Introduced
         
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net 
negative impact of $(48,000) to General Revenue Related Funds 
through the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
         

         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
This bill would exempt faith-based chemical dependency treatment 
programs from licensure requirements.  The bill would require 
the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse to establish 
a simple procedure for a faith-based chemical dependency program 
to register its exemption.  According to the agency there would 
be a loss in fee revenue due to the exemption from licensing 
fees.
 
Methodolgy
 
The estimated loss in fee revenue collected is $48,000 per biennium. 
 The loss in fee revenue would occur every other year due to 
the agency's two-year license renewal cycle.  The agency estimates 
that out of approximately 800 licensed facilities, ten percent 
would qualify for the faith-based exemption.  Based on an average 
licensure fee of $600 the loss in fee revenue is estimated to 
be $48,000 every two years.  Any costs associated with registering 
a program as faith-based could be reasonably absorbed by the 
agency.
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 Revenue   
            Gain/(Loss) from                                                                              
            General Revenue                                                                               
            Fund                                                                                          
            0001                                                                                           
       1998         ($48,000)                                                                        
       1998                                                                                          
       2000          (48,000)                                                                        
       2001                                                                                          
       2002          (48,000)                                                                        
 
 
         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            ($48,000)
               1999                    0
               2000             (48,000)
               2001                    0
               2002             (48,000)
 
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:   517   Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
                                         324   Department of Human Services
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,MG