LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          April 12, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Toby Goodman, Chair          IN RE:  House Bill No. 2572
         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.
2572 (relating to the foster care of certain children and the
termination of the parent-child relationship) this office has
determined the following:

This bill would permit judicial termination of the parent-child
relationship if the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services has been the child's permanent managing conservator for
at least 12 months and has placed the child in foster care, a
group home, or an institution; the parent has failed to
substantially plan for, provide for, or maintain more than
incidental contact with the child, or has neglected, abused, or
failed to care for another child; and termination is in the best
interest of the child.

The bill is based on a Texas Performance Review recommendation
(GG11) that the Legislature should amend the family code to allow
termination of parental rights one year after a child is removed
from the home if the parent has refused to follow court orders. 
The recommendation anticipates a savings to the State by reducing
foster care costs for children who have no hope of reuniting with
their parents.

General revenue savings are based on the Comptroller of Public
Account's TPR recommendation.  The Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services indicates the general revenue savings to be
$740,744 for the FY 1996-97 biennium due to a more favorable
federal matching ratio for foster care payments.    




 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 
             Year     to  General    
                        Revenue      
                        Fund 001     
                                     
          1996               $541,000
          1997                541,000
                                     
          1998                541,000
                                     
          1999                541,000
          2000                541,000
                                     
                                     
                                     
       Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.

No fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.


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