LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 8, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 761
          Committee on State Affairs                              By: Gallegos
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB761 ( Relating 
to the regulation of Wall & Ceiling contractors; providing penalties.) 
this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB761-As Introduced
         
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 would bill require the Department of Licensing and Regulation 
(TDLR) to register and regulate wall and ceiling contractors. 
 The provisions of the bill would establish the Texas State 
Wall and Ceiling Contractors Board as an advisory board and 
authorize the Commissioner to appoint the board's six members. 
 The board members are to serve without compensation but may 
be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

The bill provides for 
registration, annual renewal, and continuing education requirements 
for qualifying applicants.  In addition, this bill provides 
penalties and sanctions for violations of this Act.  The department 
of Licensing and Regulation is authorized to investigate all 
allegations of violations and to conduct corresponding hearings 
related to these violations. 

 
Methodolgy
 
The bill provides that the commissioner shall set application 
and registration fees.  It is assumed that fees generated would 
cover the cost of administering the provisions of the bill. 
 The Department will require 3 FTEs to implement this Article: 
 1 Supervising Inspector, 1 Admin. Tech. IV for board support, 
and 1 Admin. Tech. I for inspection support.  It is assumed 
that any programming requirements can be accomplished with existing 
information resources staff.
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        ($154,322)          $154,322               3.0                                    
       1998         (131,138)           131,138               3.0                                    
       2000         (131,138)           131,138               3.0                                    
       2001         (131,138)           131,138               3.0                                    
       2002         (131,138)           131,138               3.0                                    
 
 
         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:   452   Department of Licensing and Regulation
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,JD ,RA