LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
May 11, 1999
TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
State Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1248 by Farrar (Relating to the regulation of the
practice of architecture, landscape architecture, and
interior design; providing administrative penalties.),
As Engrossed
**************************************************************************
* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB1248, As Engrossed: impact of $0 through the biennium ending *
* August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
**************************************************************************
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Net Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $0 *
* 2001 0 *
* 2002 0 *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
***********************************************************************
*Fiscal Probable Probable Probable Probable Change in *
* Year Savings/ Revenue Savings/ Revenue Number of *
* (Cost) from Gain/(Loss) (Cost) from Gain/(Loss) State *
* General from New - GR from New - Employees *
* Revenue General Dedicated GR from FY 1999 *
* Fund Revenue Scholarship Dedicated *
* 0001 Fund Fund for Scholarship *
* 0001 Architectu- Fund for *
* ral Architectu- *
* Examination ral *
* Applicants Examination *
* Applicants *
* 2000 $(205,744) $205,744 $(100,000) $100,000 4.0 *
* 2001 (196,529) 196,529 (100,000) 100,000 4.0 *
* 2002 (202,598) 202,598 (100,000) 100,000 4.0 *
* 2003 (208,878) 208,878 (100,000) 100,000 4.0 *
* 2004 (215,361) 215,361 (100,000) 100,000 4.0 *
***********************************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
This bill would require the Board of Architectural Examiners (BAE) to
recognize, prepare, or administer continuing education programs for
architects, landscape architects, and interior designers. Participation
in the continuing education programs would be mandatory. Persons
renewing their registrations would be required to submit proof to the BAE
of satisfactory compliance with the continuing education requirement.
The bill would allow the BAE to accept payment of fees by credit card and
charge a fee for processing the payment, not to exceed 5 percent of the
fee paid.
The bill would remove the $200 professional fee from applications for
examination and allow the board to set penalties for late registrations.
The bill would also allow the board to assess administrative penalties
for violations of the registration requirements for landscape architects
and interior designers. Such penalties would be deposited to the credit
of the General Revenue Fund 0001.
The bill requires the BAE to deposit $10 of each certificate of
registration renewal fee collected to the credit of a new Scholarship
Fund for Architectural Examination Applicants.
This bill would take effect September 1, 1999.
Methodology
The BAE estimates a need for four additional FTE's to comply with the
continuing education provisions. The elimination of the $200 professional
fee and the continuing education requirements would cause a loss of
revenue to the General Revenue Fund, while the implementation of
administrative and late penalties would increase revenue to fund.
It is assumed the BAE would adjust fees collected by the agency to offset
any revenue loss and costs associated with the bill.
It is assumed all funds in the Scholarship Fund for Architectural
Examination Applicants would be distributed for scholarships.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 459 Board of Architectural Examiners, 304
Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK, SD, TH, RT