LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 4, 2009

TO:
Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB532 by Patrick, Dan (Relating to a physician's delegation of prescriptive authority to physician assistants or advanced practice nurses.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB532, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: 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.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010 $0
2011 $0
2012 $0
2013 $0
2014 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
General Revenue Fund
1 		Probable Revenue Gain from
General Revenue Fund
1
2010 ($80,000) $80,000
2011 $0 $0
2012 $0 $0
2013 $0 $0
2014 $0 $0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Occupations Code relating to a physician's delegation of prescriptive authority to physician assistants or advanced practice nurses.  The bill would require physicians to register with the Texas Medical Board (TMB), the name and license number of a physician assistant or advanced practice nurse to whom a delegation is made.  The bill states that the agency may develop and use an electronic online delegation registration process for registration. 

This bill would take effect September 1, 2009.


Methodology

According to the analysis by the TMB, there would be approximately 4,000 delegation registrations per year.  The agency anticipates charging a fee for a population of 8,000 physician assistants.
The agency would require revisions to its database and development of an online application for registration.  The agency estimates a total one-time cost of $80,000 for fiscal year 2010.  This includes costs of $20,000 for a server and $60,000 for software and programming costs associated with the development of the online application.  Based on the analysis of the TMB, it is assumed that the Board would adjust license fees to cover any additional costs associated with the implementation of the bill.

Based on the analysis of the Texas Board of Nursing, all other duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.


Technology

The TMB estimates $20,000 for a server and $60,000 for software and programming costs associated with the development of the application.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
503 Texas Medical Board, 507 Texas Board of Nursing
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, MW, NV