LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 2, 2011

TO:
Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Government Organization
 
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1774 by Taylor, Larry (Relating to the continuation and functions of the office of injured employee counsel under the workers' compensation program.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Labor Code relating to the continuation and operation of the Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC). OIEC is subject to the Sunset Act and will be abolished on September 1, 2011, unless continued by the Legislature. The bill would continue OIEC for 6 years and would take effect on September 1, 2011. The bill would also require OIEC to maintain complaint information, and develop and encourage the use of appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures. The bill would limit OIEC’s authority to access claim files for injured employees that OIEC is not directly assisting. The bill would amend the statute to allow OIEC an additional month in preparing its legislative report.  The bill would authorize OIEC to obtain grant funding.
 
Based on the analysis provided by OIEC and the Sunset Commission, any costs associated with the implementation of the bill could be absorbed within OIEC’s existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 448 Office of Injured Employee Counsel
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, MW, CH, KM