LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                                May 7, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Teel Bivins, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Education
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2510  by Chavez (Relating to the establishment of
               diabetes research and screening programs at certain
               institutions of higher education.), As Engrossed
  
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*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB2510, As Engrossed:  negative impact of $(3,090,000) 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                         $(1,272,500)  *
          *       2003                          (1,817,500)  *
          *       2004                          (2,220,000)  *
          *       2005                          (2,220,000)  *
          *       2006                          (2,220,000)  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
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*Fiscal    Probable Savings/(Cost) from     Change in Number of State     *
* Year         General Revenue Fund           Employees from FY 2001      *
*                      0001                                               *
*  2002                      $(1,272,500)                             4.0 *
*  2003                       (1,817,500)                             4.0 *
*  2004                       (2,220,000)                             6.0 *
*  2005                       (2,220,000)                             6.0 *
*  2006                       (2,220,000)                             6.0 *
***************************************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill authorizes Texas Tech University System Board of Regents to
establish the Texas Tech Diabetes Research Center (Center) at the Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center campus in El Paso by January 1,
2003.  The Board of Regents would be authorized to select a site for the
Center and would be responsible for the organization, control, and
management of the Center.  The Center would develop and conduct research
on diabetes and disease-related conditions.

The bill also requires the University of Texas-Pan American to coordinate
an acanthosis nigricans screening program.  The program would include
public or private schools in regional education service centers 1, 2, 3,
13, 15, 18, 19, and 20.  It would mandates screening for acanthosis
nigricans for public and private school children in those areas at the
same time hearing and vision screening and spinal screening are
conducted. It would requires the University of Texas-Pan American to
monitor screening activities.
  
  
Methodology
  
Based on analysis prepared by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board, the Center would require one director, two professional research
staff, and one support staff starting part-time in fiscal year 2002 and
becoming full-time in fiscal year 2004.  An additional support staff and
a data manager would also begin full-time in fiscal year 2004.  No
additional space or library holdings would be required.

An exceptional item request associated with the implementation of the
acanthosis nigricans screening program at The University of Texas-Pan
American totals $1 million per year.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
According to the Department of Health, local school districts would incur
costs associated with the extra time required for screening, oversight,
and record-keeping in meeting the provisions of the bill.  The Texas
Education Agency (TEA) estimates that 1,358,026 students would be
screened for Acanthosis nigircans under the provisions of the bill. TEA
assumes the cost of screening and data/reporting requirements would be
$1 per student. Therefore, the annual local cost associated with this
bill could be approximately $1,358,026.
  
  
Source Agencies:   501   Texas Department of Health, 701   Texas
                   Education Agency, 720   The University of Texas
                   System, 768   Texas Tech University System, 781
                   Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
LBB Staff:         JK, CT, MG