LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session May 17, 1995 TO: Honorable Toby Goodman, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute Committee on Juvenile Justice and for Family Issues Senate Bill House of Representatives No. 7 Austin, Texas By: Harris FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 7 (Relating to the parent-child relationship, suits affecting the parent-child relationship, and the protection of children.) this office has determined the following: The bill would make changes to the Family Code to implement provisions of Comptroller recommendations in "Gaining Ground" and "A Partnership for Independence". The bill would implement the recommendation to expedite the adoption process for children in the custody of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services who have been constructively abandoned while in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. By establishing a new condition under which a negligent parent might surrender parental rights involuntarily through court proceedings, the State could reduce costs for children who are currently under foster care with no hope of reuniting with their parents. The estimated savings to the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services is based on historical costs for the Department for foster care for children who meet the conditions set forth in the bill. The bill includes the gain to the Child Support Retained Collections Account under a driver's license revocation system. An increase in collections for AFDC Child Support cases is expected to occur due to payment of child support obligations that are in arrears during the first three years of operation. After the first three years, increased child support collections are expected to be realized as a result of this provision, although the amount should decrease as the arrearages are paid. Administrative costs are based on administrative hearings experience in other states with driver's license revocation programs. It is anticipated that the Office of the Attorney General may need additional staff to assist with increased collections. 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 Probable Gain to Year to General Child Support Revenue Fund 001 Retained Collections Account 1996 $541,000 $6,589,000 1997 541,000 9,250,000 1998 541,000 17,233,000 1999 541,000 10,644,000 2000 541,000 10,644,000 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: Legislative Budget Board LBB Staff: JK, DC, BR, RR