LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 27, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Fred M. Bosse, Chair, House Committee on Civil
               Practices
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB3152  by Capelo (Relating to due process for
               physicians, dentists, and podiatrists in hospitals.), As
               Introduced
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would provide for a physician, podiatrist, or dentist who is
damaged by a failure of a hospital to provide due process in considering
applications for medical staff membership and privileges, renewal,
modification, or revocation of privileges to bring a lawsuit against the
hospital.  Damages could include actual damages, reasonable court costs,
attorney's fees, and other appropriate relief.

If a county or a municipality owns or operates a hospital and is sued
under the provisions of the bill, they would incur legal costs and the
costs of any judgments awarded against them.  The potential negative
fiscal impact could be significant if the hospital is found not to have
followed due process in its staffing decisions.
  
  
Source Agencies:   501   Texas Department of Health
LBB Staff:         JK, TB, DB