LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
April 1, 1999
TO: Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health
Services
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB1238 by Nelson (Relating to accreditation of
environmental testing laboratories), Committee Report 1st
House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB1238, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: positive impact *
* of $27,964 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. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $46,379 *
* 2001 (18,415) *
* 2002 15,032 *
* 2003 8,041 *
* 2004 10,541 *
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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 $(43,621) $90,000 0.6 *
* 2001 (108,415) 90,000 1.8 *
* 2002 (114,968) 130,000 1.8 *
* 2003 (176,959) 185,000 2.8 *
* 2004 (174,459) 185,000 2.8 *
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Technology Impact
Estimates above include two personal computers at $2,500 each.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Department of Health to administer an
environmental testing laboratory accreditation program. The Board of
Health would establish an accreditation fee in an amount sufficient to
defray the cost of administering the provisions of the bill.
Methodology
Cost estimates above assume that, initially, the certification program
would be operated primarily with existing staff. Additional staff would
be added as the program grows.
Revenue assumptions anticipate that approximately 20 environmental
chemistry laboratories would require certification in years 1 and 2,
increasing to 30 by year 3, and 35 by years 4 and 5. It is assumed that
the department would assess a $4,000 per year fee during the first three
years and increase to $5,000 in the fourth and fifth year. New revenues
added in association with certification of microbiology labs are assumed
to be approximately $10,000 per year. The department states that
laboratory fees would be evaluated on an annual basis and adjusted as
necessary.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK, TP, KF