LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION May 6, 2015 TO: Honorable Wayne Smith, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB289 by Estes (Relating to the licensure or certification of volunteer firefighters and members of industrial emergency response teams.), As Engrossed The provisions of the bill could result in an indeterminate negative revenue impact to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection resulting from an indeterminate number of part-time fire protection employees who opt not to acquire or renew their firefighter certifications. The bill would amend the Government Code to prohibit a state agency from requiring the licensing or certification of an individual as a condition of being a volunteer firefighter, or requiring a member of an industrial emergency response team to obtain a license or certification as a condition of being a member of such a team. The bill would define a "volunteer firefighter" as a member of a volunteer fire department who is not a full-time paid employee or a part-time employee of a fire department.The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) estimates it regulates approximately 2,200 individuals classified as part-time fire protection employees. To hold certification with TCFP, these part-time individuals must take a certification examination and pay a fee of $85, and then submit an application for certification with an additional fee of $85, totaling $170 to initially become certified by TCFP. The individuals then pay a certification renewal fee of $85 annually if they wish to continue to hold certification with the agency.Presumably, removal of regulatory authority over these individuals could have a negative impact on revenue generated by the agency, to the degree the part-time fire protection employees noted above who participate in the programs offered by the agency opt not to participate. This fiscal note assumes the number of those volunteers opting not to acquire or renew a license or certification from TCFP is indeterminate. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:411 Commission on Fire Protection, 454 Department of Insurance LBB Staff: UP, CL, AI, JAW, SZ, ER, KKR, SD
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
May 6, 2015
TO: Honorable Wayne Smith, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB289 by Estes (Relating to the licensure or certification of volunteer firefighters and members of industrial emergency response teams.), As Engrossed
TO: Honorable Wayne Smith, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB289 by Estes (Relating to the licensure or certification of volunteer firefighters and members of industrial emergency response teams.), As Engrossed
Honorable Wayne Smith, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Honorable Wayne Smith, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB289 by Estes (Relating to the licensure or certification of volunteer firefighters and members of industrial emergency response teams.), As Engrossed
SB289 by Estes (Relating to the licensure or certification of volunteer firefighters and members of industrial emergency response teams.), As Engrossed
The provisions of the bill could result in an indeterminate negative revenue impact to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection resulting from an indeterminate number of part-time fire protection employees who opt not to acquire or renew their firefighter certifications.
The provisions of the bill could result in an indeterminate negative revenue impact to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection resulting from an indeterminate number of part-time fire protection employees who opt not to acquire or renew their firefighter certifications.
The bill would amend the Government Code to prohibit a state agency from requiring the licensing or certification of an individual as a condition of being a volunteer firefighter, or requiring a member of an industrial emergency response team to obtain a license or certification as a condition of being a member of such a team. The bill would define a "volunteer firefighter" as a member of a volunteer fire department who is not a full-time paid employee or a part-time employee of a fire department.The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) estimates it regulates approximately 2,200 individuals classified as part-time fire protection employees. To hold certification with TCFP, these part-time individuals must take a certification examination and pay a fee of $85, and then submit an application for certification with an additional fee of $85, totaling $170 to initially become certified by TCFP. The individuals then pay a certification renewal fee of $85 annually if they wish to continue to hold certification with the agency.Presumably, removal of regulatory authority over these individuals could have a negative impact on revenue generated by the agency, to the degree the part-time fire protection employees noted above who participate in the programs offered by the agency opt not to participate. This fiscal note assumes the number of those volunteers opting not to acquire or renew a license or certification from TCFP is indeterminate.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 411 Commission on Fire Protection, 454 Department of Insurance
411 Commission on Fire Protection, 454 Department of Insurance
LBB Staff: UP, CL, AI, JAW, SZ, ER, KKR, SD
UP, CL, AI, JAW, SZ, ER, KKR, SD