LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 17, 1997
TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 1403, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Committee on Health & Human Services By: Moncrief
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1403 ( Relating
to the establishment and funding of a blindness education, screening,
and treatment program.) this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1403-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
positive impact of $3,422,063 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 require the establishment and funding of a blindness
education, screening, and treatment program. The Texas Commission
for the Blind must establish and implement this program by January
1, 1998. The Department of Public Safety would be required
to collect an additional fee of $1.00 for the issuance and renewal
of a driver's license to fund the Blindness Screening, and Treatment
Program. The $1.00 fee will be transferred to the comptroller
for deposit.
Methodolgy
The revenue gain is from an increase of $1.00 fee from the
issuance and renewal of licenses, license examinations, and
occupational licenses to be used for the Blindness Education,
Screening, and Treatment Program.
The Department of Public
Safety adds an additional FTE to perform added duties and responsibilities
related to the monitoring and reconciliation of discrepancies.
The Commission for the Blind adds two FTEs (both Admin. Tech
II) in the Central Office to handle the administrative duties
associated with the program.
The services provided by
the program include the following components: (1) written education
materials, telephone-accessible information, and public presentations;
(2) eye examinations performed by a licensed optometrist, and
(3) may include any treatment necessary to prevent blindness,
the average costs of services for the five year period is $4.5
million. The fiscal impact is based on serving 1% of the "need
estimate".
The Texas Commission for the Blind would be
responsible for the prescribing eligibility requirements for
the program.
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 Probable Change in Number
Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from Savings/(Cost) of State
from State General Revenue from General Employees from
Highway Fund Fund Revenue Fund FY 1997
0006 0001 0001
1998 ($204,355) $3,800,000 $0 1.0
1998 (32,969) 3,912,000 (4,289,937) 3.0
2000 (37,101) 3,979,000 (4,423,452) 3.0
2001 (37,101) 4,049,000 (4,575,262) 3.0
2002 (37,101) 4,118,000 (4,732,385) 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 $3,800,000
1999 (377,937)
2000 (444,452)
2001 (526,262)
2002 (614,385)
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government
is anticipated.
Source: Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
318 Commission for the Blind
405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff: JK ,BB ,ER