LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 7, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 486, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
          Committee on State Affairs                              By: Brown
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB486 ( Relating 
to the regulation of geologists, geophysicists, and soil scientists; 
providing an administrative and a criminal penalty.) this office 
has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB486-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
         
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
 
This bill would establish a Board of Registration for Geologists, 
Geophysicists and Soil Scientists for the examination, registration 
and discipline of these professions.  The bill would create 
a nine member board appointed by the governor.  The board would 
appoint an executive director to run day-to-day operations.

The 
bill would authorize the board to adopt and enforce rules, administer 
examinations, issue certificates of registration, impose administrative 
penalties for violations, and perform other duties to administer 
the provisions of this bill.  The bill would allow the board 
to set fees necessary to offset expenses incurred in administering 
the provisions of this bill. The bill would also provide that 
all funds collected be deposited in a special fund from which 
all expenses related to administration and enforcement would 
be paid. Any unexpended balance in the fund at the end of the 
fiscal year would lapse to the General Revenue Fund.

This 
bill would take effect September 1, 1997, except that Sections 
18 and 42 take effect January 1, 1999.
 
Methodolgy
 
It is estimated that a staff of approximately 15 full-time equivalent 
positions (FTEs) plus associated operating costs would be required 
to administer the bill.  This estimate is based on the assumption 
that approximately 10,000 out of an estimated 23,000 professionals 
in this field would apply for a certificate of registration. 
 It is estimated that the costs to administer the bill would 
be approximately $1,200,000 in the first year and $1,000,000 
every year thereafter.

 This bill would create a new special 
fund and a dedicated revenue source in the State Treasury.  
The creation and/or continuation of special funds and dedicated 
revenue sources outside the General Revenue Fund could further 
restrict the Legislature's ability to appropriate revenues for 
general operating purposes.  
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   Probable           Change in Number   
            Gain/(Loss) from   Savings/(Cost)     of State                                                
            New -              from New -         Employees from                                          
            Geoscientists Fund Geoscientists Fund FY 1997                                                 
            NEW-OTH            NEW-OTH                                                                     
       1998        $1,200,000      ($1,200,000)              15.0                                    
       1998         1,000,000       (1,000,000)              15.0                                    
       2000         1,000,000       (1,000,000)              15.0                                    
       2001         1,000,000       (1,000,000)              15.0                                    
       2002         1,000,000       (1,000,000)              15.0                                    
 
 
         Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
 

 
              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:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,JD ,CG