83(R) SB 1312 - House Committee Report version

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 10, 2013

TO:	Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security

FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB1312 by Schwertner (Relating to the regulation and practice of veterinary medicine; authorizing a fee.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1312, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2015.

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
2014	$0
2015	$0
2016	$0
2017	$0
2018	$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	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2013
2014	($127,394)	$127,394	2.0
2015	($82,954)	$82,954	2.0
2016	($82,954)	$82,954	2.0
2017	($82,954)	$82,954	2.0
2018	($82,954)	$82,954	2.0

The bill would amend the Occupations Code relating to the regulation and practice of veterinary medicine, and authorizing a fee. The bill would require the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TSBVME) to license and regulate veterinary technicians. The bill would allow the TSBVME to appoint advisory committees, and require the development of a jurisprudence examination for veterinary technicians. The bill would establish qualifications for a veterinary technician which include passing a jurisprudence examination, being at least 18 years old, graduating from a program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, passing the Veterinary Technician National Examination, and not being otherwise disqualified by board rule or terms of the bill. The bill would also require a licensed veterinary technician to display their license at the facility of their employment.

The bill would enable the TSBVME to investigate complaints received, deny licenses, and take disciplinary action against veterinary technicians. The bill would also allow a supervising veterinarian to delegate greater responsibility to a licensed veterinary technician than to a certified veterinary assistant or a veterinary assistant, and establish a scope of practice for veterinary technicians.

The TSBVME would be required to adopt shall adopt the rules, procedures, fees, and jurisprudence examination described in the bill not later than June 1, 2014, and veterinary technicians would be required to obtain a license by September 1, 2014.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.

Based on information provided by the TSBVME, it is assumed that 1,600 veterinary technicians would be licensed each fiscal year.

Based on the analysis of the TSBVME, it is assumed that an additional 2.0 FTEs would be required to license, regulate and enforce the provisions of the bill. In addition to salary and benefit costs in the amount of $80,439 in each fiscal year, it is assumed that the agency would incur other costs of $40,000 in Professional Fees and Services in fiscal year 2014, $1,000 in Travel in each fiscal year, $1,515 in Other Costs in each fiscal year, and $4,440 in Equipment in fiscal year 2014.

Since the TSBVME is statutorily required to cover the cost of its operations with fee generated revenue, it is assumed that the agency would assess fees as necessary to cover all costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.

Based on information provided by the Department of Public Safety and Comptroller of Public Accounts, it is assumed that all duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.

Based on the analysis of the TSBVME, it is estimated that $40,000 in Professional Fees and Services will be required in fiscal year 2014 to facilitate the addition of a veterinary technician category to the TSBVME's regulatory database.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.