LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 18, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Ron Wilson, Chair, House Committee on Licensing
               & Administrative Procedures
  
        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.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB1248, As Introduced:   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 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 Revenue    Change in Number of  *
* Year    Savings/(Cost) from   Gain/(Loss) from   State Employees from  *
*        General Revenue Fund General Revenue Fund        FY 1999        *
*                0001                 0001                               *
*  2000             $(205,744)             $205,744                  4.0 *
*  2001              (196,529)              196,529                  4.0 *
*  2002              (202,598)              202,598                  4.0 *
*  2003              (208,878)              208,878                  4.0 *
*  2004              (215,361)              215,361                  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.

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.
  
  
Source Agencies:   459   Board of Architectural Examiners, 304
                   Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, TH, RT