LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 86TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 3, 2019

TO:
Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
 
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director     Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director
Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1520 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.), As Passed 2nd House

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would continue the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) with a new Sunset date of September 1, 2031. The bill would have no fiscal impact to the state because as a self-directed semi-independent state agency, TSBPA receives no appropriated funds.  The agency is responsible for all direct and indirect costs of its operation and sets its fees to cover the costs of its operations.

The bill would implement several recommendations from the Sunset Commission, including a requirement for obtaining criminal history record information from licensees. Licensees would pay a fee to a vendor of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the processing of their background check and a portion of the fee would result in increased revenue to DPS, however the increased revenue is not expected to be significant and would be used to offset costs associated with providing the background checks. The bill would remove the requirement that out of state firms obtain a license from the agency to perform certain services if the firm meets requirements of the Public Accountancy Act.

The bill has an effective date of September 1, 2019.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 457 Board of Public Accountancy, 405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff:
WP, SD, DFR, CLo, SGr