LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 11, 2003

TO:
Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judicial Affairs
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1059 by Thompson (Relating to certified and licensed court interpreters and certified CART providers; providing a penalty.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1059, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($11,174) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 ($8,587)
2005 ($2,587)
2006 ($2,587)
2007 ($2,587)
2008 ($2,587)
2009 ($2,587)




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2004 $5,615 ($14,202)
2005 $5,615 ($8,202)
2006 $5,615 ($8,202)
2007 $5,615 ($8,202)
2008 $5,615 ($8,202)
2009 $5,615 ($8,202)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 57 of the Government Code as it relates to certified and licensed court interpreters and certified Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) providers. The bill would provide the Court Reporters Certification Board (CRCB) with the authority to certify and regulate specialists in CART reporting.  The bill would allow the agency to accept gifts, grants or donations to assist in administering the CART program.


Methodology

The CRCB would be responsible for establishing a training program and administering examinations for the certification of CART providers. Agency appropriations are limited to revenue collections. 

The CRCB reports that the training/continuing education program would be administered once a year at an estimated cost of $6,500. The education program would be outsourced to an external entity. 

The CRCB reports that it would incur costs of $1,702 per year to administer the CART exam twice per year. The costs would include secondary grading and an evaluation of the exam.  There would also be a one-time programming cost of $6,000 in FY 2004 to set up the CART examination and modify the current database to include CART reporting.

The CRCB is authorized to collect exam fees, renewal fees and registration fees.  Estimated revenues associated with the bill would include $1,200 per year in examination fees, $2,415 per year in renewal fees, and $2,000 per year in training registration fees.  Potential revenues from gifts, grants or donations are not included in this estimate. 


Technology

Technology costs are estimated at $6,000 in fiscal year 2004. 

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
201 Supreme Court of Texas, 204 Court Reporters Certification Board, 335 Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
LBB Staff:
JK, GO, VDS, NV