Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB603 by Zedler (Relating to certain complaints concerning the Texas Medical Board.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB603, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
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 2019
2020
($49,916)
$49,916
1.0
2021
($48,171)
$48,171
1.0
2022
($48,171)
$48,171
1.0
2023
($48,171)
$48,171
1.0
2024
($48,171)
$48,171
1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Occupations Code as it relates to certain complaints concerning the Texas Medical Board.
Under the provisions of the bill, the Texas Medical Board (TMB) would be required to submit to certain standing committees of the legislature a copy of any complaint and related information submitted by a license holder regarding the board or an employee of the board within 30 days of TMB receiving the complaint.
Methodology
Under the provisions of the bill, TMB could receive a complaint regarding the board and its employees at any stage of the board's investigation into a complaint against a license holder and would be required to prepare and submit the complaint and all related information to legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over the agency within 30 days.
TMB does not currently have a process for receiving these types of complaints, and if there are complaints about TMB they are submitted to the Governor's office. Complaints filed by license holders and related information may have confidential information or details the agency is not legally able to disclose, and this new process would require an increased workload for the agency in receiving, reviewing, and submitting this information to the legislature within the required timeframe.
TMB notes that it conducts approximately 2,200 investigations on physicians in each fiscal year and would receive an estimated 660 complaints regarding the agency or employees of the agency each year. To implement the provisions of the bill, TMB indicates that it would require an additional full-time-equivalent (FTE) position. The cost for an additional FTE would be $47,028 in fiscal year 2020 and $45,283 in each subsequent fiscal year. An additional $2,888 in other operating expenses would be needed in fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year for the cost of supplies, postage, and compact discs.
The estimated total to comply with the provisions of the bill would be $49,916 in fiscal year 2020 and $48,171 in each subsequent fiscal year.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.