(a) A rate is established per completed environmental lead investigation.
(b) The initial rate is based on the estimated cost to perform an inspection of a child's primary dwelling. The estimated costs used to develop this initial rate include: estimated salary and fringe benefits cost and estimated indirect costs.
  (1) Estimated Salary and Fringe Benefits Cost. The estimated number of staff hours required per environmental lead investigation is multiplied by the estimated salary and fringe benefits per hour to determine the estimated salary and fringe benefits cost per investigation.
  (2) Estimated Indirect Cost. The estimated annual equipment cost is calculated by dividing the equipment cost by the estimated life in years of the equipment. The estimated annual supply cost is calculated by multiplying the cost of lead testing supplies necessary for each instrument by the total number of instruments. This estimated annual equipment cost is then added to the estimated annual supply cost and the total is divided by the estimated number of environmental lead investigations that will be completed annually to determine the estimated indirect cost per investigation.
(c) The rate for environmental lead investigations will be reviewed and updated periodically by projecting the initial rate from the historical cost period used to develop the initial rate to the prospective rate period using the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Chain - Type Price Index or revising the estimated costs used to determine the rate.

Source Note: The provisions of this §355.8445 adopted to be effective April 19, 2011, 36 TexReg 2381