LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 13, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney            IN RE:  House Bill No. 1826, As Passed 2nd House
          Speaker of the House                Goodman
          House of Representatives
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1826 ( Relating 
to the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, the 
protection of children from abuse and neglect, and the conservatorship 
of children.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1826-As Passed 2nd House
         

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
         
The bill would amend numerous provisions in the Family and Education 
Codes relating to protecting children from abuse and neglect, 
and the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Protective 
and Regulatory Services.

Implementation of several provisions 
in the bill would have no significant fiscal impact.  These 
include provisions that would:  require the department to audio- 
and videotape certain interviews with children; add new grounds 
for the involuntary termination of parental rights; exempt the 
department from paying fees to obtain medical records during 
an investigation; and, allow the department to pay funeral expenses 
for foster children who die in conservatorship.  They also include 
provisions that would allow the department to use funds maintained 
in a child's bank or savings account to support the child, and 
to recover the cost of foster care from the estate of a child 
or parent.

A potential exists for increased costs due to 
implementation of several other provisions in the bill, but 
this would be dependent on board rules and agency implementation 
policies.  The provisions that could increase costs would:  
remove a cap on the total amount of foster care payments, including 
medical care; remove limitations on medical care payments; allow 
the department to make foster care payments for a broader range 
of children; and, allow the Board of Protective and Regulatory 
Services to adopt rules establishing criteria and guidelines 
for the payment of foster care, and for the care of children 
who reach age 18 in conservatorship and continue to attend school 
regularly through age 21.

No significant fiscal implication 
to units of local government is anticipated.
         
 
          
   Source:            Agencies:   324   Department of Human Services
                                         405   Department of Public Safety
                                         501   Department of Health
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,NM