LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          March 6, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair         IN RE:  House Bill No. 1284
         Committee on Public Health                     By: Solis
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas







FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
1284 (Relating to the designation of the mental health and mental
retardation authority for Cameron County.) this office has
determined the following:

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.

The bill provides for the transfer of the Mental Health and
Mental Retardation Authority for Cameron County  from Tropical
Texas MHMR to the Rio Grande State Center.

Costs to the State would not change.  However some costs would be
shifted from TXMHMR to ERS.

Funds for the operation of programs in Cameron County would
transfer from Tropical Texas MHMR to Rio Grande State Center. 
There would be no change in costs for the state.  However, the
transfer of staff would decrease costs for TXMHMR and increase
costs to ERS in the form of fringe benefits for the personnel
transfered.  Fringe benefits are based on 30% of the personnel 
costs which are paid from general revenue proportioned to Cameron
County (approx. 136 FTEs of the 180 to be transfered).  Fringe
benefits for personnel costs paid from Mental Health Block Grant
would continue to be paid from the MH Block Grant

Costs to ERS would continue as long as the county was included in
the Rio Grande State Center.    




 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            Probable          Change in    
             Year   Cost/(Savings) to   Cost/(Savings) to   Number of State 
                       TXMHMR from      ERS from  General    Employees from 
                     General Revenue     Revenue Fund 001       FY 1995     
                         Fund 001                                           
                                                                            
          1996              ($487,202)            $487,200             136.0
          1997               (487,202)             487,200             136.0
                                                                            
          1998               (487,202)             487,200             136.0
                                                                            
          1999               (487,202)             487,200             136.0
          2000               (487,202)             487,200             136.0
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            



Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.




Source:   Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation
          LBB Staff: JK, GT, DF