LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 30, 2013

TO:	Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3349 by Rodriguez, Eddie (Relating to accelerated educational programs offered by public institutions of higher education to qualified persons seeking licensure as physician assistants.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 61 of the Education Code to allow institutions of higher education that offer accredited educational programs for physician assistants to offer one or more accelerated programs to allow eligible persons with previous medical education, training, and experience to: (1) bypass elements of a regular physician assistant educational program that duplicate previous medical education, training, or experience; and (2) complete the remaining program elements in a manner that facilitates the expeditious licensure of those persons as physician assistants. 

It is assumed that the costs of implementing this legislation would be absorbed by the institutions.  In addition, it is expected that the provisions of the legislation would result in a loss of tuition revenue for the institutions, as well as formula funding savings as a result of the courses not being taken.   

The bill would take effect September 1, 2013, or immediately with a two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house of the Legislature. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration

LBB Staff:

UP, KK, SK, DEH