| TO: | Honorable Kino Flores, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1317 by Driver (Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain electricians.), As Introduced |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2006 | $0 |
| 2007 | $0 |
| 2008 | $0 |
| 2009 | $0 |
| 2010 | $0 |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Revenue Gain from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1 |
Probable Savings/(Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1 |
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | $370,255 | ($370,255) | 1.0 |
| 2007 | $134,632 | ($134,632) | 1.0 |
| 2008 | $136,239 | ($136,239) | 1.0 |
| 2009 | $136,239 | ($136,239) | 1.0 |
| 2010 | $136,239 | ($136,239) | 1.0 |
The provisions of the bill amend the Occupations Code to require the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to issue temporary electrical apprentice licenses and set the fee for temporary electrical apprentice licenses. The provisions require the agency to establish criteria and procedures for issuance of emergency electrician licenses following a disaster and offer online continuing education courses for electricians through the department’s website.
The provisions of the bill also allow for the issuance of a license without application to an applicant who holds a license issued by a municipality provided the applicant applies no later than 90 days after program is discontinued; without examination to an applicant who actively served in the armed forces of the US provided applicant applies no later than December 31, 2006; and without examination to an applicant who complies with certain criteria and experience requirements provided the applicant applies no later than December 31, 2005.
The provisions also require TDLR to publish a notice of the extended deadlines in newspapers of general circulation in both large and small communities.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If the bill does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, the bill would take effect September 1, 2005.
It is assumed that TDLR would set fees as necessary to offset the costs of implementing the provisions of the bill.
According to TDLR, the estimated cost for publishing a notice of the extended deadlines is $240,094. This cost is based on average cost of running a legal notice for 1 day of $337 (10 estimates from 10 publications of varying sizes throughout the state ranged from $1269 in Houston to $32 in Jasper) and will include approximately 712 daily and general interest publications throughout the state.
TDLR anticipates contracting with a company for continuing education at a cost of approximately $1 per subscriber per month ($53,252 in fiscal year 2006 and $61,102 in fiscal year 2007) while linking its website and would still develop courses. TDLR estimates that it would need one Full-time Equivalent ($45,959 salary and benefits and $7,400 in other operating and equipment costs in fiscal year 2006 and $45,959 salary and benefits and $1,500 in other operating costs in fiscal year 2007). The Administrative Assistant IV would determine licensees who will be taking continuing education courses online each month through department website, set up the accounts for the month, close out the accounts for the prior month, and develop continuing education courses.
TDLR estimates additional TexasOnline fees of $3 for each new and renewal license applications through the internet ($23,550 in fiscal year 2006 and $28,371 in fiscal year 2007).
| Source Agencies: | 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, JRO, MW, DE, KJG
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