LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 26, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 1561
          Committee on Jurisprudence                              By: Wentworth
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1561 ( Relating 
to recording certain depositions.) this office has detemined 
the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1561-As Introduced
         

Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a 
net negative impact of $(377,782) to General Revenue Related 
Funds through the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
         

         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
According to the Court Reporters Certification Board, of the 
3,448 certified court reporters in the state, there are an estimated 
2,743 freelance court reporters who record depositions. Under 
the provisions of the bill, these freelance reporters would 
not be required to be examined, certified, or disciplined by 
the agency.  

 
Methodolgy
 
Based on current fee projections, the agency predicts that it 
could lose up to 90% of collected fee revenue ($165,970) in 
even-numbered years and 80% of collected fee revenue ($211,812) 
in odd-numbered years.  The number fluctuates due to the higher 
number of certification renewals processed in odd-numbered years. 
 

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   
            Gain/(Loss) from                                                                              
            General Revenue                                                                               
            Fund                                                                                          
            0001                                                                                           
       1998        ($165,970)                                                                        
       1998         (211,812)                                                                        
       2000         (165,970)                                                                        
       2001         (211,000)                                                                        
       2002         (165,000)                                                                        
 



 
         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           ($165,970)
               1999            (211,812)
               2000            (165,970)
               2001            (211,000)
               2002            (165,000)
 
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:   
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,MG