LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 18, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 1850, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
          Committee on Human Services                              By: Naishtat
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1850 ( Relating 
to protective services for elderly and disabled persons; providing 
a criminal penalty.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1850-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
         
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
         
This 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 Section 48.0215 of the 
Human Resources Code to specify that the Department of Protective 
and Regulatory Services (PRS) may not be required to pay fees 
relating to the appointment of attorneys or guardians ad litem 
for two groups of individuals: 1) minors in PRS managing conservatorship 
who will not be able to care for themselves upon reaching adulthood 
because of a physical or mental condition, and 2) adults found 
by PRS to be in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation who 
will not be able to care for themselves because of a physical 
or mental condition.  PRS reports that county courts on occasion 
have sought to have PRS pay the fees associated with a court 
proceeding that did not result in the appointment of an attorney 
or guardian ad litem.  The amendment would clarify and continue 
the agency's current policy of not paying ad-litem fees.  It 
is assumed that any savings to PRS from implementation of the 
provision would not be significant.
         
 
          
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government 
is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   530   Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB