LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
February 17, 1997
TO: Honorable Allen Hightower, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 214
Committee on Corrections By: Staples
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB214 ( Relating
to the provision of health care to an inmate confined in the
institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.)
this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB214-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium
ending August 31, 1999.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code by requiring inmates
confined in the institutional division of the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) who initiate visits to a health care
provider to make a $3.00 copayment per visit to TDCJ. Application
of this provision would apply to all inmates confined in the
institutional division on or after September 1, 1997. Provisions
are made for specific exemptions to the copayment requirement.
Money received as a result of copayments would be deposited
in a new dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund that
may be used only to pay the cost of administering the copayment
requirements. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Comptroller
would transfer any surplus from the preceding fiscal year to
the credit of the dedicated Compensation to Victims of Crime
account in the General Revenue Fund.
Methodolgy
It is estimated that the proposed copayment plan would reduce
inmate sick-call visits by 30 percent, and that 75 percent of
the remaining visits would be exempted from the copayment charge.
The average number of visits subject to the copayment is then
applied to the projected number of inmates confined in the institutional
division who would have sufficient funds to cover charges.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Five Year Impact:
Fiscal Year Probable Probable Revenue Probable Revenue
Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from Gain/(Loss) from
from New New GR-Dedicated Compensation to
GR-Dedicated Account - Victims of Crime
Account - Account/
GR-Dedicated
8021 8021 0469
1998 ($100,000) $825,000 $0
1998 825,000 725,000
2000 825,000 825,000
2001 825,000 825,000
2002 825,000 825,000
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
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: Agencies: 696 Department of Criminal Justice
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK ,CB ,JN