LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 19, 2005

TO:	Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1899 by Zaffirini (Relating to the regulation of chemical dependency counselors. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Department of State Health Services to approve peer assistance programs to assist licensed chemical dependency counselors whose ability to perform a professional service is impaired by abuse or dependency on drugs or alcohol, and to maintain a list of approved programs on the DSHS website.  DSHS would be permitted to issue or renew the license of a person convicted or placed on community supervision for drug or alcohol related offenses if the person has completed participation in a peer assistance program, or if DSHS waives the requirement.  

The bill would require supervised work experience to be obtained at a registered clinical training institution or under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor.

DSHS indicates any costs associated with implementation of the bill would be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

537 Department of State Health Services

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, KF, BW