LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
January 28, 1997
TO: Honorable Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 157
Committee on Intergovernmental Relations By: Haywood
Senate
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 Introduced
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:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds during each
of the first five years is estimated as follows:
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