Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1754 by Uresti (Relating to certification and recertification requirements for emergency services personnel.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1754, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($877,218) 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.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2014
($426,331)
2015
($450,887)
2016
($451,517)
2017
($452,172)
2018
($452,842)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2013
2014
($426,331)
4.0
2015
($450,887)
5.0
2016
($451,517)
5.0
2017
($452,172)
5.0
2018
($452,842)
5.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Chapter 773 of the Health and Safety Code relating to certification and recertification requirements for emergency services personnel. The bill requires the advisory council created under Section 773.012, Health and Safety Code, to create and provide a list of recommended standardized training programs and standardized certification examinations to be used by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to create a statewide standardized training and examination program for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. The bill requires the training and examination programs to meet certain national standards. Under the provisions of the bill, the DSHS commissioner is required to establish recertification standards and approve not more than three statewide standardized certification examinations from the list provided by the advisory council.
Under the provisions of the bill, the DSHS commissioner is required to approve a statewide standardized certification examination, statewide standardized training programs, and establish the standards for recertification by September 1, 2014 and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Executive Commissioner is required to adopt rules to implement the bill by September 1, 2014. The bill would take effect immediately if a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Legislature is received. Otherwise, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.
Methodology
This analysis assumes that DSHS will be required to develop and maintain examinations in-house, using state resources. It assumes that an examination will need to be developed and maintained for each of the five levels of EMS certification and will include a written and practical portion for each examination. It is assumed that distinct examinations for recertification will not be created and that the same certification examination will be utilized for recertification.
It is assumed that implementing the statewide nature of the examination will require administration of written and practical examinations in multiple locations across the state. It is assumed that DSHS will contract with a testing service to provide the examination. The testing service will charge a fee directly to the exam candidates and no revenue to the state will be generated from the exam.
DSHS estimates that implementing the provisions of the bill will require 5 additional FTEs to create and maintain the examinations. The FTEs will be one Education Specialist V to be hired September 1, 2013, three Education Specialist III and one Administrative Assistant III to be hired in the second quarter of fiscal year 2014. The additional FTEs would cost $242,656 in salary and wages and $72,166 in benefits in fiscal year 2014 and $296,229 in salary and wages and $88,099 in benefits in fiscal year 2015. The other operating expenses and travel costs associated with the FTE are estimated to be $77,290 in fiscal year 2014 and $32,705 in fiscal year 2015. The associated Health and Human Services Commission enterprise cost is estimated to be $34,219 in fiscal year 2014 and $33,854 in fiscal year 2015. The total cost to General Revenue is $426,331 in fiscal year 2014 and $450,887 in fiscal year 2015.
It is assumed that any costs associated with HHSC adopted rules related to the provisions of the bill can be implemented within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.