FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 167 as introduced would allow the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy to join the interstate Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact to increase access to occupational therapy services and to provide uniformity in certain licensing requirements and practices among member states. This bill: (1) would increase the financial obligations of the Board by an undetermined amount dependent on the amount of the annual assessment fee levied by the Occupational Therapy Compact Commission on each member state to cover the costs of its operations, activities, staff, and annual budget as authorized in the compact; and (2) could, based on FY 2021 new licensees and renewals, decrease the amount of license fees collected from out-of-state occupational therapist and occupational therapist assistants who decide to become licensed in their home state and practice in Alabama under the compact privilege by an estimated $25,880. In addition, this bill provides for the collection of: (1) revenues from fees imposed for the privilege to practice in the state, by an undetermined amount, dependent upon the number of fees and the amount of the fees set by the Board for the privilege to practice; (2) revenues from any other fees and fines that may be assessed on occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed pursuant to the provisions of this bill.