LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 12, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 361, Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
          Committee on Public Health                              By: Madla
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB361 ( Relating 
to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Board of 
Acupuncture Examiners; providing penalties.) this office has 
detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB361-Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
         
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
         
FISCAL ANALYSIS

The bill would amend the Medical Practice 
Act by continuing the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners 
for eight years, setting the date for the next Sunset review 
at September 1, 2005.  The bill would standardize the regulation 
of acupuncture by granting the acupuncture board authority to 
issue subpoenas and temporary licenses.  The bill would also 
require licensees to maintain a current address on file with 
the acupuncture board and report any change within 30 days. 
 In addition, the bill would make the grounds for denial of 
an acupuncture license and for disciplinary action against an 
acupuncture licensee consistent with similar grounds that apply 
to physicians and physician assistants licensed under the Medical 
Practice Act.  Finally, the bill would increase the criminal 
penalty for unlicensed practice of acupuncture.

METHODOLOGY

The 
State Board of Acupuncture Examiners is subject to the provisions 
of the Texas Sunset Act, and unless continued by the 75th Legislature, 
will be abolished September 1, 1997.  The amount set forth for 
the administration of this agency is included in the General 
Appropriations Bill, as introduced, and is contingent upon passage 
of SB 361 or similar legislation.  The General Appropriations 
Bill, as introduced, would provide $52,093 and 1.0 FTE in fiscal 
year 1998 and $56,320 and 1.0 FTE in fiscal year 1999.
         
 
          
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB