LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 9, 2003

TO:
Honorable Kino Flores, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB282 by Jackson (relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners; providing penalties.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB282, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a positive impact of $174,000 through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 $87,000
2005 $87,000
2006 $87,000
2007 $87,000
2008 $87,000




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2004 $87,000
2005 $87,000
2006 $87,000
2007 $87,000
2008 $87,000

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would continue the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners for 12 years.

The bill would require the agency's committees to be composed of board members only; create a staff enforcement committee to review complaints and applicants with conviction histories; and authorize the board to issue administrative penalties in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each violation.


Methodology

Requiring board committees to be composed of board members only would result in a cost to the state of approximately $1,500 annually.  Costs are based on an estimate of three committee meetings per year at $250 per meeting for each of two board members needed to serve in place of agency staff.

Authorizing staff to review complaints and applicants with criminal conviction histories would eliminate the need for one board member at each committee meeting and result in a cost savings to the state of approximately $1,500 annually.  Cost savings are based on estimated travel costs to six enforcement meetings per year at $250 per meeting.  It is assumed these cost savings would offset the costs of requiring board committees to be composed of board members only.

 

It is estimated granting the board authority to issue administrative penalties would result in an annual gain to the State of $87,000 annually, based on a five-year average of total fines paid in Justice of the Peace Courts for citations issued by the Board from FY 1997 to FY 2001.

 

It is assumed the agency would adjust fees to offset any other costs or revenue loss.


Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 456 Board of Plumbing Examiners, 301 Office of the Governor, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 344 Commission on Human Rights, 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation
LBB Staff:
JK, JRO, TG, GO, RT