LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session May 2, 1997 TO: Honorable David Sibley, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 710, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted Committee on Economic Development By: Averitt Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB710 ( Relating to the implementation of federal reforms and the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB710-Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net positive impact of $120,000 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 This bill would amend existing legislation to bring the State of Texas into compliance with federal legislation concerning the availability of health insurance for high-risk individuals. The bill provides for the administration of the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool (Pool) which would guarantee insurance coverage for individuals who do not qualify for health insurance because of certain medical conditions. The State would assess charges against health insurance companies in order to fund the Pool. Section 15 of the bill would require that the Office of the State Auditor (SOA) conduct annually a special audit of the Pool. The Pool would remit the amount of each audit to the comptroller for deposit into the General Revenue fund. Implementing this section of the bill would result in the following gains to General Revenue: $50,000 in fiscal year 1998, $70,000 in fiscal year 1999, and $100,000 in fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002. Revenues would increase as the program reaches full capacity. Methodolgy Gains to General Revenue from audits of the Pool were calculated by multiplying the estimated total hours needed to review and report on the Pool by the average SOA billing rate. 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 Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 0001 1998 $50,000 1998 70,000 2000 100,000 2001 100,000 2002 100,000 Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds: Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative) General Revenue Related Funds Funds 1998 $50,000 1999 70,000 2000 100,000 2001 100,000 2002 100,000 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: Agencies: LBB Staff: JK ,TH