Honorable Tracy O. King, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1311 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would continue the Board of Professional Geoscientists with a new Sunset date of September 1, 2025. The bill would implement the Sunset Commission's recommendations regarding governor designation of the presiding officer of the board, board member training, complaint process standardization, and board adoption of policies regarding negotiated rulemaking and alternative dispute resolution. The bill would authorize the board to accept qualifying work experience in lieu of the education requirement. The bill would increase the maximum allowable administrative penalty amount against a licensee who violates the Geoscience Practice Act or a board rule from $100 to $1,500 per day for each violation.
It is assumed that the provisions of the bill relating to board member training requirements could be absorbed using existing resources. The increase of the maximum administrative penalty allowed could result in an increase in revenue, however, this penalty is determined by the board on a violation-by-violation basis; therefore, the fiscal impact cannot be determined but is not expected to be significant.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
481 Board of Professional Geoscientists, 116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts