LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                           May 19, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Don Henderson, Chair         IN RE: Committee Substitute
         Committee on Jurisprudence                           forHouse Bill
         Senate                                 No. 2569
         Austin, Texas                                  By: Harris








FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
2569 (Relating to the investigation of child abuse and the
protection of the interests of a child who is the subject of a
child abuse investigation or a suit affecting the parent-child
relationship or who is under the jurisdiction of the Department
of Protective and Regulatory Services; providing penalties.) 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.

This bill would require the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services to file a petition for the removal of an
alleged perpetrator in certain child abuse cases 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.

The bill would require the department to establish review teams,
composed of community representatives and private citizens who
are department volunteers, to evaluate casework and decision-
making in child abuse or neglect investigations.  It would also
require the department to reimburse public members of the child
abuse program evaluation committee for travel expenses and per
diem.  It is assumed that these duties can be absorbed from
existing resources.    




The bill would require local law enforcement agencies to jointly
investigate reports of serious physical or sexual abuse of a 
child with the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
or  another responsible agency.  The department could proceed
with an investigation if the local law enforcement agency was
unable or unwilling to conduct a joint investigation.  This
provision would have an impact on staffing requirements which
cannot be determined.

The bill would require the department to develop swift adoption
teams to expedite the process of placing children under the
department's jurisdiction for adoption.  There are possible costs
to the department in recruiting and retaining potential adoptive
families which could be offset by a savings in foster care
payments.  However, the net fiscal impact cannot be determined.


The fiscal implication to  the State or units of local government
cannot be determined.


Source:   Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
          LBB Staff: JK, NM, DF