LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
May 7, 1999
TO: Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
Health
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1646 by Ehrhardt (relating to the standards for
occupational exposure of public employees to bloodborne
pathogens), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB1646, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: negative impact *
* of $(83,707) 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. *
* *
* The bill states that the provisions of the bill would only take *
* effect if a specific appropriation for the implementation of the *
* bill is provided in the General Appropriations Act of the *
* Seventy-sixth Legislature. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(26,441) *
* 2001 (57,266) *
* 2002 (39,968) *
* 2003 (39,968) *
* 2004 (39,968) *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*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 $(51,441) $25,000 1.0 *
* 2001 (82,266) 25,000 1.3 *
* 2002 (64,968) 25,000 1.3 *
* 2003 (64,968) 25,000 1.3 *
* 2004 (64,968) 25,000 1.3 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Department of Health to adopt minimum
standards to implement an exposure control plan to minimize exposure of
certain governmental employees. The department would be required to
recommend that a governmental unit implement needleless systems and
sharps with engineered sharps injury protection.
The department would be required to compile and maintain a list of
existing needleless systems and sharps with engineered sharps injury
protection. The department would be allowed to charge a fee to register
a device in the list.
Methodology
The Department of Health estimates that one additional FTE would be
required in fiscal year 2000 only to establish and implement the exposure
control plan and related activities, including developing rules.
Beginning in the second year, 25% of one FTE would be needed to compile
the list of existing needleless systems and assist local governments.
One additional FTE and related costs would be required to implement and
maintain a registration program for existing needleless systems and
sharps with engineered sharps injury protection.
It is assumed that one-third of the potential 25 manufacturers would
register at least two devices per year at a cost of $1,500 per device,
generating $25,000 per year in revenues, beginning in the second year.
Local Government Impact
According to the Department of Health, one additional FTE at each large
local health department would be required to coordinate efforts at all
clinic sites. The governmental units would be responsible for
researching and determining that any given needleless device is unsafe
or ineffective in order to discontinue or refrain from using it;
implement the exposure control plan, follow requirements, and maintain
an injury log.
Source Agencies: 501 Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, TP, KF