LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 17, 2005

TO:	Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1025 by Madla (Relating to the regulation of the practice of optometry and therapeutic optometry.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1025, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($124,370) 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	($56,644)
2007	($67,726)
2008	($68,916)
2009	($70,129)
2010	($71,367)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue (Loss) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Probable Revenue Gain from UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DEVELOPMENT FUND
2006	($56,644)	$56,644
2007	($67,726)	$67,726
2008	($68,916)	$68,916
2009	($70,129)	$70,129
2010	($71,367)	$71,367

Fiscal Analysis

The bill amends the Occupations Code by defining the "Practice of optometry" to mean the examination and diagnosis of any disease, condition, or disorder of the human eye, adnexa, or visual system. It would also define the “Practice of therapeutic optometry" to mean the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of any disease, condition, or disorder of the human eye, adnexa, or visual system by any appropriate means. The bill would also require the Optometry Board (board) to deposit 25 percent of each annual renewal fee collected by the board in the University of Houston College of Optometry’s Development Fund, instead of the 15 percent required under current law.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Methodology

Currently, the board is required to deposit 15 percent to the University of Houston’s College of Optometry. According to board, an increase in transferred funds would result in a revenue loss to the General Revenue Fund of $56,644 in fiscal year 2006 and $67,726 in fiscal year 2007, with losses continuing to increase at a rate of approximately 1.76 percent in each subsequent year.

Technology

No significant fiscal technological implication is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 514 Optometry Board

LBB Staff:

JOB, SR, MW, RR