LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 12, 1995 TO: Honorable Toby Goodman, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 2567 Committee on Juvenile Justice and By: Brady Family Issues House of Representatives Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 2567 (relating to the investigation of certain allegations of child abuse; providing a penalty) 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 would require the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to provide, at the request of a child's family, that an interview of the child be conducted during an investigation by a qualified psychologist who is not the same sex as the child's alleged abuser. The department estimates that this provision would add nearly 17,000 interviews per year to its workload. The bill would require the department to conduct joint investigations of child abuse or neglect cases with local law enforcement agencies. This provision would have an impact on staffing requirements for local law enforcement agencies which cannot be determined at this time. The bill would require the department to establish review teams composed of community representatives and private citizens to evaluate the department's casework and decision-making in child abuse investigations. The review teams would examine the facts as presented by departmental caseworkers and local law enforcement personnel. This provision would increase the department's workload. It would also have an impact on staffing requirements for local law enforcement agencies which cannot be determined at this time. The bill would require the department to require the suspected offender in a confirmed case of child abuse to leave the residence of the child rather than attempting to remove the child from the residence. This provision could result in a cost savings due to fewer foster care placements, but the savings cannot be determined at this time. 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 Cost Out Probable Cost Change in Year of General Out of Federal Number of State Revenue Funds 555 Employees from Fund 001 FY 1995 1996 $934,273 $1,440,524 6.0 1997 917,627 1,423,199 6.0 1998 917,627 1,423,199 6.0 1999 917,627 1,423,199 6.0 2000 917,627 1,423,199 6.0 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 of Protective & Regulatory Services, Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, Department of Human Services LBB Staff: JK, NM, RR