LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 23, 2003

TO:	Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3168 by Giddings (Relating to the determination of workers’ compensation benefits and the resolution of disputes regarding those benefits.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill amends the Labor Code to allow an alternative medical dispute resolution process for low-cost medical services in the workers' compensation system.  The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission indicates some costs may be associated with implementation of the bill.  It is assumed that any costs associated with implementation of the bill could be absorbed with current resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

453 Workers' Compensation Commission, 478 Research and Oversight Council on Workers' Compensation, 479 State Office of Risk Management

LBB Staff:

JK, RR, JRO, RT, JW