Honorable Stephanie Klick, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2053 by Klick (Relating to the licensing and regulation of genetic counselors; requiring an occupational license; authorizing a fee.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2053, As Introduced : a positive impact of $14,151 through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2022
$0
2023
$14,151
2024
$251
2025
$251
2026
$1,661
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Revenue Gain from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2022
$0
$0
0.0
2023
($40,839)
$54,990
0.5
2024
($37,819)
$38,070
0.5
2025
($37,819)
$38,070
0.5
2026
($37,819)
$39,480
0.5
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Occupations Code relating to the licensing and regulation of genetic counselors requiring an occupational license; authorizing a fee. The bill would authorize the Commission of Licensing and Regulation (Commission) and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to regulate the occupational license for genetic counselors and enforce the Licensed Genetic Counselor Act.
Methodology
According to information provided by TDLR, the agency would need to hire a Program Specialist III as a 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) position to perform the tasks required by the new chapter, including rule-making, development and administration of the examination and continuing education requirements, and to be the agency's expert on the genetic counseling program. Licensing of genetic counselors would not begin until September 1, 2022 so there would be no expenses or revenue in fiscal year 2022. The part-time program specialist would cost $40,839 in fiscal year 2023 from the General Revenue Fund for salary, benefits, and travel, plus one-time expenses for a computer and related equipment. The cost would then be $37,819 in General Revenue in subsequent years.
TDLR reports that all other duties required for the licensing and regulation of the profession can be accomplished within existing resources.
TDLR reports that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 150 genetic counselors in Texas in 2019. TDLR assumes there are approximately 156 genetic counselors currently in Texas with an estimated addition of approximately three new counselors per year. To cover the cost of the part-time program specialist, TDLR assumes the fee for a genetic counselor license would be $470 for a two-year license. Since the licenses in this program have a two-year license term, in order to get half of the license population renewing in alternate years, half the license population would need to pay a fee for a two-year license in the first year and half would need to pay a fee for a one-year license. The revenue for the program is expected to be approximately $54,990 in fiscal year 2023, approximately $38,070 in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, and approximately $39,480 in fiscal year 2026.
This analysis assumes that any increased cost to TDLR, which is statutorily required to generate sufficient revenue to cover its costs of operation, would be offset by an increase in fee-generated revenue.
Technology
This analysis estimates a total one-time technology cost of $3,020 in fiscal year 2023 for equipment required to implement the provisions of the bill.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 452 Dept of License & Reg