| TO: | Honorable Rick Hardcastle, Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2066 by Anderson (Relating to the requirements for obtaining a veterinarian's license.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Occupations Code relating to the eligibility requirements for the issuance of veterinarian license. The bill would require graduation from a board-approved school or college of veterinary medicine located in the United States or Canada or that an applicant have obtained a certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The current examination fees include a $50 application fee and a $205 examination fee for a state veterinarian license. The licensing renewal fee is $318 per veterinarian. Of this fee, $200 ($150 goes to General Revenue Fund, and $50 goes to the Foundation School Fund) is included for a professional fee and the remaining $118 is deposited to the General Revenue fund to cover the cost of agency operations.
Based on the analysis of the Board of Veterinarian Medical Examiners (BVME), approximately 9 new applicants would be ineligible to either take the examination in fiscal year 2006. Based on growth estimated by the BVME, it is assumed that 18 new applicants who would be eligible under current law would not be eligible in fiscal year 2007 and that this amount would increase to 29 in fiscal year 2008, 42 in fiscal year 2009, and 58 in fiscal year 2010. This analysis assumes that 32 individuals estimated to be licensed as of the end of fiscal year 2005 would be ineligible to renew their license each fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2006. It also assumes that all individuals who would be applying for a new license and paying an examination fee would also be paying a renewal fee the same year 6 months after paying the exam fee. This analysis does not include an estimate of the possible licensees from other states that would be eligible for and seek a Texas license under the law in effect at the end of fiscal year 2005 as that number can not be estimated.
It is estimated that revenue losses to the General Revenue Fund of $21,443 would be realized in fiscal year 2006; $26,150 in fiscal year 2007; $31,903 in fiscal year 2008; $38,702 in fiscal year 2009; and $47,070 in fiscal year 2010. It is also estimated that revenue losses to the Foundation School Fund of $2,050 would be realized in fiscal year 2006; $2,500 in fiscal year 2007; $3,050 in fiscal year 2008; $3,700 in fiscal year 2009; and $4,500 in fiscal year 2010.
Based on the analysis of the BVME, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be covered with existing resources. Based on the amount of revenue estimated from the BVME in the Comptroller’s Biennial Revenue Estimate for fiscal year 2006 and 2007, (approximately $1.8 million in fiscal year 2006 and $1.9 million in fiscal year 2007) no significant revenue loss to the state is anticipated.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.
| Source Agencies: | 578 Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, WK, MW, BC
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