LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 5, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Mike Moncrief, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Health & Human Services
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB931  by Moncrief (Relating to the regulation of contact
               lens dispensing.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  SB931, As Introduced:  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:
  
***************************************************************************
*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