LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 9, 2001
TO: Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
Health
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1877 by Gray (Relating to the regulation of contact
lens dispensing.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB1877, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: 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:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) *
* Year General Revenue Fund from General Revenue Fund *
* 0001 0001 *
* 2002 $(17,187) $17,187 *
* 2003 (6,746) 6,746 *
* 2004 (6,746) 6,746 *
* 2005 (6,746) 6,746 *
* 2006 (6,746) 6,746 *
***************************************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Contact Lens Prescription Act (Chapter 353,
Occupations Code) concerning the issuance of a contact lens prescription
and a patient's right of access to that prescription.
The bill would allow for an increase in complaints both from the patient
and dispenser regarding professional responsibility and standard of care.
The complaints would require additional staff time, correspondence, and
telephone calls. The Optometry Board would have to pay costs for
updating its web site to communicate the new requirements and reprint
brochures containing information useful to the general public. Rules
would have to be written and printed, requiring an additional Board
meeting for such purposes.
Methodology
The Optometry Board estimates the bill would require (1) dissemination of
information; (2) drafting of rules; (3) relative support supplies for
implementation; (3) board meetings to consider rule adoptions; (4)
printing costs of communication documents such as brochures and general
rules; (5) staff time and cost in handling complaints; (6) investigation
cost; and (7) cost to update the web site.
It is assumed the agency would adjust fees to offset any costs associated
with the implementation of the bill.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 501 Texas Department of Health, 514 Texas
Optometry Board
LBB Staff: JK, HD, RT, ER