LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 14, 2009

TO:	Honorable Joe Deshotel, Chair, House Committee on Business & Industry
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB698 by Zerwas (Relating to the designated doctor's examination under the workers' compensation system.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill amends the Labor Code  to allow an employee to request a maximum medical improvement and impairment rating exam by the employee's treating doctor or from another doctor to whom the employee is referred by the treating doctor.

Based on the analysis of the Texas Department of Transportation, the University of Texas System Administration, and Texas A&M University System, the bill could slightly increase the cost of workers' compensation bills and that those costs could be absorbed within the current resources.

The Texas Department of Insurance and the State Office of Risk Management indicate that the bill has no fiscal impact on those agencies. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

454 Department of Insurance, 479 State Office of Risk Management, 601 Department of Transportation, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration

LBB Staff:

JOB, JRO, MW, CH