LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
March 20, 2001
TO: Honorable Ron Wilson, Chair, House Committee on Licensing
& Administrative Procedures
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1505 by Yarbrough (Relating to the regulation of
plumbing; providing a penalty.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB1505, As Introduced: positive 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. *
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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:
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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 2001 *
* 0001 0001 *
* 2002 $(112,064) $112,064 2.0 *
* 2003 (81,914) 81,914 2.0 *
* 2004 (81,914) 81,914 2.0 *
* 2005 (81,914) 81,914 2.0 *
* 2006 (81,914) 81,914 2.0 *
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Technology Impact
The agency estimates a one-time cost associated with the bill of $30,000
for an outside programmer, web site update, and equipment associated
with two additional employees.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Board of Plumbing Examiners to add new license
and registration categories for plumbers, drain cleaners and plumbing
apprentices.
Currently the Plumbing Board does not register apprentices. One-time
apprentice cards are issued, but are not required to be renewed or
updated. It is assumed that there are at least two apprentices working
with each journeyman. As of February 20, 2001, there were 12,070
licensed journeymen, or an estimated 24,140 apprentices.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
Methodology
Two additional Administrative Technicians III would be required to
support the increase in licensing activity and to support the processing
of new applications for examination and registration. The agency also
anticipates there will be an increase in the number of hearings due to
denials (usually due to criminal history issues) of unqualified
applicants. Currently, denied applicants are not entitled to a hearing.
However, the bill would allow for denied applicants to have a right to
a hearing on any denial. This would increase the estimated number of
cases to be heard by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 456 Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, 302
Office of the Attorney General
LBB Staff: JK, JO, ER, RT