LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
May 1, 1995
TO: Honorable Toby Goodman, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute
Committee on Juvenile Justice and for
Family Issues House Bill
House of Representatives No. 433
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
433 (relating to the parent-child relationship, suits affecting
the parent-child relationship, and the protection of children)
this office has determined the following:
The bill would make changes to the Family Code to implement
provisions of Comptroller recommendations in "Gaining Ground" and
"A Partnership for Independence". Section 56 of the bill would
implement the recommendation to expedite the adoption process for
children in the custody of the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services who have been constructively abandoned while
in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. By
establishing a new condition under which a negligent parent might
surrender parental rights involuntarily through court
proceedings, the State could reduce costs for children who are
currently under foster care with no hope of reuniting with their
parents. The estimate for Section 56 is based on historical
costs for the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
for foster care for children who meet the conditions set forth in
the bill.
Sections 72 and 73 include the gain to the Child Support Retained
Collections Account under a driver's license revocation system.
An increase in collections for AFDC Child Support cases is
expected to occur due to payment of child support obligations
that are in arrears during the first three years of operation.
After the first three years, increased child support collections
are expected to be realized as a result of this provision,
although the amount should decrease as the arrearages are paid.
Administrative costs are based on administrative hearings
experience in other states with driver's license revocation
programs. It is anticipated that the Office of the Attorney
General may need additional staff to assist with increased
collections.
The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of
the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Probable Savings Probable Gain to
Year to General Child Support
Revenue Fund 001 Retained
Collections
Account
1996 $541,000 $6,589,000
1997 541,000 9,250,000
1998 541,000 17,233,000
1999 541,000 10,644,000
2000 541,000 10,644,000
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.
The fiscal implication to units of local government cannot be
determined.
Source: Office of the Attorney General, Comptroller of Public
Accounts, Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services,
Department of Licensing and Regulation,
Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, DC, RR