LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 26, 2005

TO:	Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB207 by Goodman (Relating to the reduction of registration, license, and renewal fees required to be paid by certain land surveyors.), As Engrossed

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB207, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($230,260) through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.

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
2006	($110,780)
2007	($119,480)
2008	($133,835)
2009	($144,855)
2010	($155,440)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue (Loss) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1
2006	($110,780)
2007	($119,480)
2008	($133,835)
2009	($144,855)
2010	($155,440)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Occupations Code to reduce the registration, license and renewal fees for elderly land surveyors.  The board by rule may adopt reduced certificate of registration and license fees and annual renewal fees for land surveyors who are at least 65 years of age.

The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote in each house.  If the bill does not receive a two-thirds vote in each house, the bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Methodology

The Board of Land Surveyors estimates that there are 3,000 registrants in fiscal year 2005 and that approximately 764 land surveyors would be at least 65 years of age in fiscal year 2006.  Based on the number of applicants estimated by the agency, it is assumed the number of applicants that would be at least 65 years of age would increase in the following years so that there would be 824 applicants in fiscal year 2007, 923 in fiscal year 2008, 999 in fiscal year 2009, and 1072 in fiscal year 2010. Based on the analysis of the Board of Land Surveyors, it is assumed that all applicants at least 65 years of age would no longer be required to pay the certificate of registration fee, license fee and annual fee of $145 beginning in fiscal year 2006.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 464 Board of Professional Land Surveying

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, JRO, MW, NV