LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 15, 2009

TO:	Honorable Tommy Williams, Chair, Senate Committee on Administration
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3670 by Hopson (Relating to the regulation of the practice of dental assistants, including the delegation of certain dental acts.), As Engrossed

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3670, As Engrossed: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.

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
2010	$0
2011	$0
2012	$0
2013	$0
2014	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1	Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1
2010	($10,132)	$10,132
2011	$0	$0
2012	$0	$0
2013	$0	$0
2014	$0	$0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would authorize a licensed dentist to delegate to a qualified and trained dental assistant certain procedures, including coronal polishing and the application of pit and fissure sealant. The bill would require the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners to issue a certification to eligible dental assistants to perform these additional duties.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.

Methodology

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners estimates that 10,000 dental assistants would apply for this certification.

Based on information provided by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, it is assumed that changes to the license database at a one-time cost of $10,132 would be required to accommodate new certifications.

This analysis assumes that any increased costs to the agency, which is statutorily required to generate sufficient revenue to cover its costs of operation, would be offset by an increase in fee generated revenue.

Technology

Programming costs are estimated to be 122 hours at $83.05 per hour. These costs include analysis, adding new fields to the database, setting up the application screen, modifying the renewal program for certificate changes, testing and modifying the TexasOnline interfaces. These estimates are provided by the agency's current contractor for the database.

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, MN, MW, ES, CL