Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1849, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted : a negative impact of ($17,919,785) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.

The bill would allow the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to remove a person from the employee misconduct registry upon receiving a written request from the person.

The bill outlines the information that would be stored in the search engine, and states that an individual who engaged in reportable conduct would not be entitled notice or an opportunity for a hearing before their information is included in the search engine.

The bill would require the participating state agencies to conduct a search query using the search engine to determine whether an individual who may have access to a client has engaged in reportable conduct, and if so, whether the individual is ineligible for certain employment, volunteer positions, contracts, licensure, or certifications. Each participating agency would be required to notify an individual of such ineligibility.

The bill would establish the Office of Interagency Coordination on Reportable Conduct within DFPS to facilitate coordination and communication between DIR, participating state agencies, designated users, interested persons, and the public regarding any relevant search engine information. 

The bill would require DIR and each participating agency to enter into a memorandum of understanding which specifies roles and duties of each agency with respect to establishing and maintaining the search engine.

The bill would require DFPS to conduct background checks using information provided by TJJD and the interagency reportable conduct search engine.

The bill would authorize DFPS to designate an individual as ineligible for certain certifications if the individual engaged in conduct violating provisions in the bill, or if a panel determines that the individual's certification would threaten juveniles in the juvenile justice system. It also authorizes the executive director to convene a panel for this purpose, and entitles individuals to a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings if DFPS proposes to designate a person as ineligible for certifications.

It is assumed that the interagency database will take one fiscal year to complete and be fully operational by fiscal year 2025. Therefore, analysis assumes that 7.0 Investigator II FTEs would be needed beginning in fiscal year 2025, to research and verify information of a person prior to adding that information to the interagency search engine. Currently Information Management Protecting Adults and Children in Texas (IMPACT) does not always capture information such as date of birth or social security number. These staff would also check those individuals who have engaged in reportable conduct in the interagency database against the agency's IMPACT system. This analysis assumes 10.0 percent of checks would require further processing, resulting in 86,851 checks each fiscal year. In addition, 3.0 Investigator III FTEs would be needed to process new searches through the search engine for DFPS agency staff, volunteers, interns and contractors. This analysis assumes 23,868 checks would be conducted each fiscal year.

This analysis assumes 1.0 Manager I FTE is needed to create positions, develop job descriptions, and hire staff. In addition, 1.0 Program Specialist V is needed to develop policy, training and provide guidance to stakeholders.

To establish the Office of Interagency Reportable Conduct, the agency is assumed to need 1.0 Director III FTE, 1.0 Program Manager IV FTE, 1.0 Program Specialist VII FTE, and 1.0 Attorney III FTE. These FTEs would be responsible for functions including for coordinating compliance, management of information technology among DIR and other agencies, and developing technical procedures.

According to the agency, the Child Care Investigation program assumes the need of 2.0 Program Specialist VI FTEs and 4.0 Administrative Assistant III FTEs. These FTEs would respond to requests for information, address any case related concerns, and provide quality assurance reviews. These FTEs would track to a final determination has been reached under child care investigations and special investigations.

Currently, a “reason to believe” allegation is the final determination unless an administrative review of finding (ARIF) is requested. The agency assumes 110.0 State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) hearings may be requested each fiscal year to review the finding. Based on targeted caseloads for SOAH hearings at HHSC, this analysis assumes the need of 2.0 Attorney IV FTEs and 1.0 Legal Assistant IV FTE to staff the hearings as well as 2.0 Program Specialist VI FTEs to handle the legal sufficiency reviews that may be requested by legal services staff. Since DFPS is not listed in SOAH, Rider 7, Billing Rate for Workload, the agency would need enter into an interagency contract to pay SOAH for costs. It is assumed that SOAH's current hourly rate is $150 per hour, including fringe of $37.50 per hour. This analysis assumes the methodology for annual projected increase in IAC costs would be 6.35 SOAH hours total per hearing x 110.0 hearings x 187.50 per hour totaling $130,969 annually.

To coordinate human resources functions related to hiring, transfers and ongoing employee checks with the DFPS background check unit, this analysis assumes the need of 1.0 Human Resources VI FTE beginning in fiscal year 2025. In addition, 1.0 Records Analyst II FTE is needed to redact information before uploading information to the interagency database. The agency assumes approximately 520.0 cases would need redaction work. The agency assumes the need of 1.0 Program Specialist IV FTE to provision access to the interagency database and troubleshoot any issues.

Lastly, this analysis assumes the need of 1.0 Contracted IT FTE in fiscal year 2024 and 0.5 Contracted IT FTE in fiscal year 2025 to make IT system modifications including, change configurations of the azure active directory the business to consumer (B2C) system to incorporate new user accounts as well as the creation of new interfaces to receive data from the Department of Information Resources. 

Total costs to DFPS would be $6,263,468, and 30.0 FTEs over the 2024-25 biennium.

COSTS TO DIR:

It is assumed that DIR will require additional staff to implement and administer an interagency reportable conduct search engine. It is assumed DIR would need additional staff as follows to implement the bill: 1.0 Systems Administrator V to support the pilot phase, and another 1.0 Systems Administrator V to support the ongoing service and ultimate expansion of the number of users. Analysis assumes a total of 2.0 FTEs are needed in fiscal year 2024 through 2028 to implement the provisions of the bill. The All Funds cost for the two FTEs would be $193,440 per fiscal year, plus an additional cost of $61,572 per fiscal year for employee retirement, OSAI, group insurance, and agency payroll contribution.

Total costs to DIR would be $3,610,024, and 2.0 FTEs over the 2024-25 biennium.

COSTS TO HHSC:
It is assumed that HHSC will require additional staff to allow access to the information stored in the search engine and for additional SOAH hearings. It is assumed HHSC would need additional staff as follows to implement the bill: 19.0 Customer Service Representative IIIs, 6.0 Inspector Vs, and 3.0 Manager IIs to identify individuals who have engaged in reportable conduct, as reported in the database; 1.0 Attorney IV for an anticipated additional 24 cases; and 0.4 Program Specialist V for indirect agency functions. Analysis assumes a total of 29.4 FTEs are needed in fiscal year 2024 through 2028 to implement the provisions of the bill. Personnel related costs, including salaries, travel, and overhead, are estimated to total $2,777,755 in All Funds in fiscal year 2024 and $2,627,682 in All Funds in fiscal year 2025.

Total costs to HHSC, including SOAH hearings, would be $6,597,221, and 29.4 FTEs over the 2024-25 biennium.

COSTS TO TEA:

It is assumed that TEA will require additional staff to allow access to the information stored in the search engine. It is assumed TEA would need additional staff as follows to implement the bill: 3.0 Program Specialist Vs, 1.0 Investigator VI, and 1.0 Program Specialist IV to work with 1,200 school districts and charter schools to look-up employees or applicants for employment.  Analysis assumes a total of 4.0 FTEs are needed in fiscal year 2024 through 2028 to implement the provisions of the bill. Personnel related costs, including salaries, travel, and overhead, are estimated to total $529,424 in All Funds in fiscal year 2024 and $513,725 in All Funds in fiscal year 2025.

Total costs to TEA would be $1,377,632, and 4.0 FTEs over the 2024-25 biennium.

COSTS TO TJJD:

It is assumed that TJJD will require additional staff to allow access to the information stored in the search engine. It is assumed TJJD would need additional staff as follows to implement the bill: 3.0 Investigators II to investigate reportable conduct, and 1.0 Systems Administrator III to help integrate the IT systems. Analysis assumes a total of 4.0 FTEs are needed in fiscal year 2024 through 2028 to implement the provisions of the bill. Personnel related costs, including salaries and benefits, travel, and overhead, are estimated to total $322,096 in All Funds in fiscal year 2024 and $315,081 in All Funds in fiscal year 2025.

Total costs to TJJD would be $637,177, and 4.0 FTEs over the 2024-25 biennium.