131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 2043 LR 2722(03)
An Act to Add the State of Maine to the Compact for Licensing Physician Assistants
Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with:
C "A" (H-908)
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
             
Fiscal Note
Possible future fee increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 Projections  FY 2025-26 Projections  FY 2026-27
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 $217,628 $123,257 $126,425
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This legislation adds the State of Maine to the Compact for Licensing Physician Assistants contingent upon 7 states enacting it into law.  According to information provided by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR), there are 3 states that have enacted it and at least 12 states that have legislation pending.  This fiscal note assumes that at least 7 states will enact the compact and it will become effective during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Given this assumption, this bill includes ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds allocations totaling $217,628 in fiscal year 2024-25 to DPFR and the affected affiliated boards to join and participate in the physician assistants compact.  Of that amount, $109,316 is allocated to the Board of Licensure in Medicine for rule-making costs and for one Comprehensive Health Planner II position and related All Other costs to manage the increase in responsibilities of the board, including the review of applications for compact privilege, compact compliance, joint investigations and reporting requirements.  $1,962 is allocated to the Board of Osteopathic Licensure for its share of the rule-making costs.  Finally, $106,350 is allocated on a one-time basis to the Administrative Services - Professional and Financial Regulation program within DPFR.  Of this amount, $7,350 is for STA-CAP and $99,000 is for technology costs that are reimbursed by transfers from the 2 boards.
The impact on the dedicated revenue received by each board cannot be determined at this time.  To the extent that either board cannot support the additional costs associated with this bill within the amount of revenue currently received, fees may need to be increased.