LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 11, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Health
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB803  by Junell (Relating to reimbursement for services
               provided by registered nurse first assistants.), As
               Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB803, As Introduced:  an impact of $0 through the biennium ending    *
*  August 31, 2003.                                                      *
*                                                                        *
*  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                *
          *       2002                                   $0  *
          *       2003                                    0  *
          *       2004                                    0  *
          *       2005                                    0  *
          *       2006                                    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 2001        *
*                0001                 0001                               *
*  2002              $(83,198)              $83,198                  2.0 *
*  2003               (78,615)               78,615                  2.0 *
*  2004               (81,093)               81,093                  2.0 *
*  2005               (83,664)               83,664                  2.0 *
*  2006               (86,312)               86,312                  2.0 *
**************************************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would amend the Occupations Code by adding a new Section that
requires the Board of Nurse Examiners (BNE) to adopt rules for the
approval of Nurse First Assistants.  The provisions of the bill would
allow certification by an outside organization recognized by the BNE,
setting guidelines for the approval process and monitoring continuing
education beyond the existing requirements of a registered nurse.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
  
Methodology
  
BNE estimates it will need two additional Full-time Equivalent Positions
(FTEs).  BNE estimates they will need one full time program specialist
and one full time administrative technician to support this program which
mirrors that of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner program.  BNE currently
has over 9,000 registered nurses who have provided statistical
information they are working in an operating room environment.  BNE
assumes they will have to promulgate rules to implement this program
which will require additional travel funds for a representative of the
BNE.  BNE assumes it will have to develop an approval mechanism by which
each Nurse First Assistant will have to register with the BNE and create
and maintain on ongoing program to re-register and update the
registrant's status and monitor their continuing education requirements.

It is assumed the BNE would adjust fees to cover the cost of implementing
the bill.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   507   Board of Nurse Examiners, 529   Health and
                   Human Services Commission, 454   Texas Department of
                   Insurance
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, RT, DE