LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
Revision 1
 
March 12, 2003

TO:
Honorable Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair, Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB558 by Madla (Relating to immigration visa waivers for physicians.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB558, As Introduced: an impact of $0 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 $0
2005 $0
2006 $0
2007 $0
2008 $0




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004 ($60,000) $60,000 1.0
2005 ($60,000) $60,000 1.0
2006 ($60,000) $60,000 1.0
2007 ($60,000) $60,000 1.0
2008 ($60,000) $60,000 1.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would add Section 12.0127 to the Health and Safety Code to allow for an increase in the number of expedited immigration waivers for foreign trained physicians and would require these physicians to locate in medically underserved areas or Health Professional Shortage Areas of Texas.  The bill would amend Section 155.1025(a) of the Occuptaions Code to remove the authorization to allow foreign immigrant physicians that qualified for expedited immigration waivers to serve as faculty in health-related institutions or medical schools.  The bill would also repeal Section 51.949 of the Education Code, relating to immigration visa waivers for physicians who agree to practice in underserved areas or in the area of graduate medical education.

 

The Department of Health assumes that the department would assess a $2000 application fee for each requested waiver, to be deposited to the credit of the General Revenue fund.


Methodology

The cost estimate assumes 30 waivers are processed by the Department of Health per year, with an application fee of $2000.  This may generate $60,000 per year.  One full time equivalent is assumed necessary at $45,000 plus benefits.  The FTE will receive and review applications, recommend qualified applicants and track the physicians placed under the waiver program to ensure compliance with requirements.  A computer is included at a cost of $2,193.

Technology

One computer is assumed within the cost estimate at $2,193.

Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
501 Department Of Health, 503 Board Of Medical Examiners, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
LBB Staff:
JK, EB, KF, MB