LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 31, 2009

TO:	Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB378 by Van de Putte (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 would amend 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 the Texas A&M University System, the bill could slightly increase the cost of workers' compensation bills and these 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, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, MW, CH, JRO