LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 22, 1997
TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 257
Committee on Health & Human Services By: Luna Gregory
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB257 ( Relating
to the regulation of the practice of naturopathic medicine;
providing penalties.) this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB257-As Introduced FN Revision 1
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
impact of $0 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
The bill would provide for the regulation of naturopathic medicine.
The Department of Health would administer the program, including
investigating violations of the Act and administering examinations,
among other responsibilities. The Board of Health would be
given rulemaking authority, with the advice of the Naturopathic
Physicians Advisory Committee. The Board of Health would adopt
fees by rule as necessary to cover the costs of administering
the Act.
Methodolgy
The Department of Health assumes that approximately 200 - 300
persons would be licensed in the state of Texas as naturopathic
physicians. The bill would provide for several "grandparenting"
options of persons who can prove they have been previously engaged
in the practice of naturopathic health care. (This fiscal note
is based on revised information received from the Department
of Health on 4/22/97.)
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 Revenue Change in Number
Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from of State
from General General Revenue Employees from
Revenue Fund Fund FY 1997
0001 0001
1998 ($93,833) $93,833 2.0
1998 (77,564) 77,564 2.0
2000 (77,564) 77,564 2.0
2001 (77,564) 77,564 2.0
2002 (77,564) 77,564 2.0
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 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
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: 501 Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK ,BB ,KF