LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
May 5, 1997
TO: Honorable Ron E. Lewis, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 157, As Engrossed
Committee on County Affairs By: Haywood
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB157 ( Relating
to the reimbursement to Wilbarger County for use of the county
attorney's office to prosecute mental health matters involving
persons residing outside the county.) this office has detemined
the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB157-As Engrossed
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.
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Fiscal Analysis
This bill would allow Wilbarger County to charge a fee to other
counties to cover costs associated with probate cases handled
by the Wilbarger County Attorney's office. Cases affected involve
mental health patients from counties other than Wilbarger.
This bill would set the maximum fee that Wilbarger County could
charge other counties for such cases at $150.00 per case.
Although
district attorneys are reimbursed for court costs involving
out-of-county residents in criminal cases, the Wilbarger County
Attorney currently receives no reimbursement for mental health
patient commitment cases.
In calendar year 1996, Wilbarger
County handled 103 mental health patient commitment cases involving
residents of 29 other counties, with the number of cases per
county ranging from one to 34. According to the Wilbarger County
Auditor, the level of cases generally varies between 80 and
120 per calendar year.
Methodolgy
Estimates assume an average of 100 out-of-county cases per fiscal
year and a fee of $150.00 per case. Wilbarger County can therefore
expect revenues to increase by $15,000 per fiscal year. Assuming
other counties would send between 0 and 35 cases per year, other
counties throughout the state can expect cost increases of $0
to $5,250 each per fiscal year.
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 Probable
Gain/(Loss) Savings/(Cost)
Wilbarger County Other Counties
LCL-COUNTY LCL-COUNTY
1998 $15,000 ($15,000)
1998 15,000 (15,000)
2000 15,000 (15,000)
2001 15,000 (15,000)
2002 15,000 (15,000)
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
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.
Source: Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
Wilbarger County Auditor
LBB Staff: JK ,TL