Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Government Organization
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1283 by Truitt (Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors; providing an administrative penalty.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would continue the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, which is administratively attached to the Department of State Health Services, and the regulation of professional counselors through 2017. The bill would eliminate per diem for Board members, require applicants to pass a jurisprudence exam, remove exemptions for non-Texas residents to practice without a temporary license, require DSHS to contract for development and administration of a written licensing examination, eliminate the current late renewal penalty structure, and add a penalty structure for delinquent renewals based on the renewal fee. Eliminating the per diem would result in a small savings to General Revenue. DSHS indicates the change in the late renewal penalty structure would result in an estimated loss of approximately $19,000 in General Revenue annually.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 537 Department of State Health Services, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts