LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
April 11, 1995
TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair IN RE: Senate BillNo. 1343
Committee on Health & Human Services By: Ellis, Gallegos
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
1343 (Relating to the home health visitor program and to the
establishment and operation of a healthy start/healthy families
program.) 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 require the Texas Department of Health to develop
a healthy start/healthy families home-based family support
services program designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.
The bill directs the Department of Health to model the program
after a Hawaii program. The Board of Health would be required to
adopt rules governing the establishment of a grant to a community
agency or nonprofit organization with experience in child abuse
prevention services.
The program would be required to begin operations no later than
January 1, 1996.
Fiscal implications noted below assume the statewide
implementation of a healthy start/healthy families program. An
estimated cost of $3,000 per family served is based upon the
Hawaii experience. Approximately 5,000 families per year would
be served, with 5,000 families added each year. This amount
would include all contracted services such as screening, in-home
visits, linkage to a medical home and case management.
Additional costs are included for Department of Health salaries,
travel, and operating expenses associated with training,
contracting, and monitoring the project.
It is assumed that additional federal funds would be available in
association with this project. The pilot Healthy Start projects
were able to recoup a certain amount in Medicaid administrative
claiming. However, the amount of federal funds to be secured
cannot be determined.
While the bill could produce savings through the prevention of
child abuse, these savings cannot be determined.
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 Cost Out Change in
Year of General Number of State
Revenue Fund 001 Employees from
FY 1995
1996 $15,226,079 4.0
1997 30,239,899 4.0
1998 45,246,899 4.0
1999 60,261,899 4.0
2000 75,276,899 4.0
The fiscal implication to units of local government cannot be
determined.
Source: Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, KF, DF