LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 14, 2005

TO:	Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB632 by Nelson (Relating to dental assistant x-rays.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB632, As Introduced: an impact of $0 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	$0
2007	$0
2008	$0
2009	$0
2010	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable (Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Probable Revenue Gain from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1
2006	($20,000)	$20,000
2007	($21,400)	$21,400
2008	($21,400)	$21,400
2009	($21,400)	$21,400
2010	($21,400)	$21,400

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Occupations Code by requiring the State Board of Dental Examiners (board) to create an advisory committee of dental professionals and educators to advise the board on study guides or reference materials used in preparation for the dental assistant examination.
 
The bill would require the board to make examinations for the procedure for making dental x-rays, jurisprudence, and infection control available to applicants on the internet and would also require the board to adopt a rule to specify guidelines that ensure security, guarantee the identity of the person taking the exam, and prevent security breaches. The bill states that a dentist shall proctor persons taking the exam on the internet and that the board shall make study guides or reference materials available on the internet.
 
The bill requires the examination be available in English and Spanish.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Methodology

According to the board, creating an advisory committee would not have a significant fiscal impact on the agency.

 

Based on historical expenditures of another licensing agency with a licensee population of similar size, it is estimated that initial costs of approximately $20,000 in fiscal year 2006 would be realized from contracting with a vendor to host an examination website for the board that would meet the requirements of the bill. The cost to maintain the database and online software is estimated to be $1,400 each year. It is also assumed that the agency would increase licensing fees as necessary to cover additional costs.

 

The board estimates that the cost of translating one examination into Spanish would be $3,303 and that three examinations would be $9,909 in fiscal year 2006.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

504 Texas State Board of Dental Examiners

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, MW, RR