LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 16, 2007

TO:
Honorable Dianne White Delisi, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3684 by Hamilton (Relating to the regulation of controlled substances.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3684, As Introduced: a positive impact of $1,220,000 through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008 $665,000
2009 $555,000
2010 $505,000
2011 $455,000
2012 $405,000




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from
STATE HIGHWAY FUND
6
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007
2008 $665,000 ($229,551) 3.0
2009 $555,000 ($127,451) 3.0
2010 $505,000 ($127,451) 3.0
2011 $455,000 ($127,451) 3.0
2012 $405,000 ($127,451) 3.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code relating to the regulation of controlled substances.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code, Section 481 by establishing a late fee for each renewal of a registration to manufacture, distribute, analyze, or dispense a Schedule II Prescription.

The bill would also establish a process and procedures for administrative penalties regarding violations.  The bill states the late fee may be up to $50 for registrants that do not renew their Controlled Substance Registration Certificate.  The bill states administrative penalties may not exceed $1,000 for each violation per day the violation continues and that the violation may not exceed $20,000.

The bill would take effect immediately if two-thirds of the House of Representatives and Senate members vote to enact the legislation.  If it does not receive the vote necessary for immediate impact, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2007.  The bill would apply to offenses after September 1, 2008.


Methodology

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) assumes the following number of late registrants per year: 7,100 in 2008, 5,100 in 2009, 4,100 in 2010, 3,100 in 2011, and 2,100 in 2012.  These estimates are based on an assumption that there will be greater compliance from registrants and fewer late fees each fiscal year. The bill states the late fee may be up to $50 for registrants that do not renew their controlled substance registration certificate. Based on this fee, DPS estimates that the late fee would generate the following additional General Revenue collections: $355,000 in 2008 ($50 x 7,100), $255,000 in 2009 ($50 x 5,100), $205,000 in 2010 ($50 x 4,100), $155,000 in 2011 ($50 x 3,100), and $105,000 in 2012 ($50 x 2,100).

In addition, the bill states administrative penalties may not exceed $1,000 for each violation per day the violation continues and that the violation may not exceed $20,000. DPS assumes the 25 registrants per month would be charged the maximum $1,000 fee for all twelve months in the year which would generate $300,000 in General Revenue collections each year (25 x $1,000 x 12). The total General Revenue collected from the two fees would be: $655,000 in 2008 ($355,000 + $300,000), $555,000 in 2009 ($255,000 + $300,000), $505,000 in 2010 ($205,000 + $300,000), $455,000 in 2011 ($155,000 + $300,000), and $405,000 in 2012 ($105,000 - $300,000).

DPS states that an additional 3 FTEs per year would be required to implement the provisions of the bill due to increased workload (2 clerks and 1 attorney) to process and archive application materials, input registration information into the database, and provide administrative and legal support to the agency. Other operating expenses such as maintenance and repair of office machines and computer equipment, computer supplies, non-capital computer equipment, and furniture and equipment, are also included in the cost estimate.
 
The Board of Pharmacy, the Department of State Health Services, the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Board of Medical Examiners, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts state that the provisions in the bill would have no significant fiscal impact to their agencies.


Technology

This analysis includes technology cost for computers, printers, and enterprise software agreements totaling $8,829 in 2008. Fiscal years 2009 through 2012 have a technology impact of $447 per year for continued enterprise software agreements. 


Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 405 Department of Public Safety, 515 Board of Pharmacy, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 503 Texas Medical Board
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, GG, LG