LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                        February 28, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Don Henderson                IN RE: Committee Substitute
         Committee on Jurisprudence             for
         Senate                                                Senate Bill
         Austin, Texas                          No. 338
                                                        By: Zaffirini









FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
338 (relating to the involuntary termination of the parent-child
relationship) 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 amend the Texas Family Code to allow termination
of parental rights when a child, in the managing conservatorship
of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services or
another authorized agency, has been constructively abandoned for
one year and the parent has not visited, maintained contact with,
or shown a willingness or ability to provide a safe environment
for 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.

Savings are based on the Comptroller of Public Account's TPR 
recommendation.  The Department of Protective and Regulatory    




Services indicates the savings to be $740,744 for the 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    from  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,
Comptroller of Public Accounts
          LBB Staff: JK, NM, RR