LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 13, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 1850
          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 the protective services for the elderly.) this office has 
detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1850-As Introduced
         
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) is not liable to pay fees relating 
to the determination of appointing, or 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 ,NM