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:  SB1232  by Nelson (relating to the regulation of birthing
               centers), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
*                                                                        *
*  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 relates to the regulation of birthing centers. The bill would
allow the Department of Health to appoint a monitor for a birthing
center, at the center's expense, to ensure compliance with the
provisions of the bill; to deny, suspend, or revoke a license because of
a history of noncompliance; and to issue an emergency order to suspend a
license.  It is assumed that the department would carry out the
provisions of the bill using its existing sources.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   501   Department of Health
LBB Staff:         JK, TP, RM