LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          March 29, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair     IN RE:  House Bill No. 2208
         Committee on Human Services                    By: Hilderbran
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas







FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
2208 (Relating to the provision of transportation services to
recipients of assistance or services under certain programs of
health and human services agencies.) this office has determined
the following:

The bill amends Article 1118x, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes
which requires a Metropolitan Transit  Authorities (MTA) to
provide transportation services to persons who are receiving
financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code or is
registered in the Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS)
program.  These individuals must reside in an area served by the
authority.  The amendment expands the MTA's responsibility to
include person receiving assistance under a federal program that
is administered by a health and human services agency.    

The bill specifies that the MTA will provide the health and human
services (HHS) agencies with trip vouchers to be distributed to
eligible clients.  The MTAs will certify the amount of public
funds expended for these services and the HHS agencies will
reimburse the MTAs at the applicable match rate for allowable
costs. 

The bill, as it relates to the Department of Human Services,
would include clients receiving transportation services under the
Food Stamp Employment and Training Program.   In relation to the
Department of Health, this bill would include Medical
Transportation clients.    




The savings reflected on this fiscal note are those applicable to 
the Department of Human Services, Texas Department of Health, 
Texas Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation, and the
Health and Human Services Commission. 

The Act takes effect September 1, 1995.

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      Change in   
             Year    from  General     Number of State
                    Revenue Fund 001   Employees from 
                                           FY 1995    
                                                      
          1996               $341,159               .0
          1997                408,156               .0
                                                      
          1998                408,156               .0
                                                      
          1999                408,156               .0
          2000                408,156               .0
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
       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:   Department on Aging, Department of Health, Health and
Human Services Commission,
                         Texas Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation
          LBB Staff: JK, MU, DF