LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
March 9, 2001
TO: Honorable Ron Wilson, Chair, House Committee on Licensing
& Administrative Procedures
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB405 by Brown, J. E. "Buster" (Relating to the
regulation of professional geoscientists; providing
penalties.), As Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB405, As Engrossed: 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 *
* New- Professional New- Professional FY 2001 *
* Geoscientists' Geoscientists' *
* Account (GR Account (GR *
* Dedicated) Dedicated) *
* 2002 $(1,200,000) $1,200,000 15.0 *
* 2003 (1,000,000) 1,000,000 15.0 *
* 2004 (1,000,000) 1,000,000 15.0 *
* 2005 (1,000,000) 1,000,000 15.0 *
* 2006 (1,000,000) 1,000,000 15.0 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create a nine-member Texas Board of Professional
Geoscientists. The bill would allow the board to adopt and enforce
rules, administer examinations, issue licenses, impose administrative
penalties for violations, and perform other duties to administer the
provisions of the bill.
The bill would allow the board to set fees "reasonable and necessary" to
offset the expenses incurred in administering the provisions of the bill.
The bill would create the Professional Geoscientists' Fund Account, a
dedicated account within the General Revenue Fund, which would be exempt
from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2001. except that Section 6.01
and Subchapter J, Texas Geoscience Practice Act, would take effect
September 1, 2003.
Methodology
It is estimated that a staff of approximately 15 full-time equivalents
(FTEs) plus associated operating costs would be required to administer
the provisions of the bill. This estimate is based on the assumption
that approximately 10,000 professionals in the field of geoscience would
apply for licensure. It is assumed that the board would set fees at a
rate sufficient to cover the cost of administration.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 460 Texas Board of Professional Engineers, 304
Comptroller of Public Accounts, 344 Texas
Commission on Human Rights, 464 Texas Board of
Professional Land Surveying, 302 Office of the
Attorney General
LBB Staff: JK, JO, RB, RT