LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                            February 12, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Jurisprudence
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB424  by Carona (Relating to the examination required
               for certification as a court reporter), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB424, As    *
*  Introduced:  negative impact of $(6,485) 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                             $(1,065)  *
          *       2001                              (5,420)  *
          *       2002                              (5,420)  *
          *       2003                              (5,420)  *
          *       2004                              (5,420)  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
         *****************************************************
         * Fiscal Year      Probable Savings/(Cost) from      *
         *                      General Revenue Fund          *
         *                              0001                  *
         *      2000                                 $(1,065) *
         *      2001                                  (5,420) *
         *      2002                                  (5,420) *
         *      2003                                  (5,420) *
         *      2004                                  (5,420) *
         *****************************************************
  
Technology Impact
  
The agency would incur contracting costs for computer technical
assistance in order to ensure that the certification examination would
be able to support the use of portable personal computers by examinees.
  
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would amend Section 52.023(b) of the Government Code by
providing for the expansion of technology used during the certification
examination administered by the Court Reporters Certification Board, to
include the use of personal portable computers in addition to manual and
electric typewriters.
  
  
Methodology
  
In addition to contracts for computer technical assistance, the agency
would incur costs for the rental of additional testing space, and costs
related to examination revisions due to the high risk that the use of
portable personal computers will enable examinees to obtain and save
copies of each examination.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   204   Court Reporters Certification Board
LBB Staff:         JK, PE, BP, MG