LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          March 28, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Toby Goodman, Chair          IN RE:  House Bill No. 2571
         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.
2571 (relating to children's advocacy centers) 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 set up a framework for the establishment of
children's advocacy centers to bring a cooperative,
multidisciplinary team approach to the investigation of child
abuse cases.  Each advocacy center would furnish a meeting place
for the multidisciplinary team, identify and provide the services
children and their families need during an investigation, and
coordinate the activities of governmental entities.

A children's advocacy center would be established through a
memorandum of understanding signed by the Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services, county and municipal law
enforcement agencies, a county or district attorney, and another
individual or entity that provides services to children.  The
memorandum of understanding could specify who would provide the
office space and administrative services necessary for the
center's operation.

The bill permits, but does not require, the expenditure of up to
$50,000 in state matching funds to help pay for a center's start-
up costs.  It also permits, but does not require, the
appropriation of sufficient matching funds for 20 centers during    




the upcoming biennium.  The extent to which the centers would be 
established, and the state and local contributions to these
centers, cannot be determined at this time.

The Committee Substitute for House Bill 1 includes a rider
reserving up to $1 million in funds appropriated to the
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to match local
contributions of up to $1 million as an incentive to establish 10
new children's advocacy centers during the upcoming biennium.


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, RR