LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session May 7, 1997 TO: Honorable Bob Bullock Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney Lieutenant Governor Speaker of the House Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB203 ( Relating to the provision of health care to an inmate confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB203-Conference Committee Report Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net positive impact of $497,000 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium ending August 31, 1999. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. Fiscal Analysis The bill would amend the Government Code by requiring inmates confined in facilities operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), other than halfway houses, who initiate visits to a health care provider to make a $3.00 copayment per visit to TDCJ. Application of this provision would apply to inmates confined in said TDCJ facilities on or after January 1, 1998. Provisions are made for specific exemptions to the copayment requirement. Money received as a result of copayments would be deposited in a new dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund that may be used only to pay the cost of administering the copayment requirements. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Comptroller would transfer any surplus from the preceding fiscal year to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. Methodolgy It is estimated the proposed copayment plan would reduce inmate sick-call visits by 30 percent, and that 75 percent of the remaining visits would be exempted from the copayment charge. The average number of visits subject to the copayment is then applied to the projected number of inmates confined in TDCJ facilities who would have sufficient funds to cover charges. 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 Probable Revenue Probable Revenue Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from Gain/(Loss) from from New New GR-Dedicated General Revenue GR-Dedicated Account - Fund Account - 8021 8021 0001 1998 ($100,000) $597,000 $0 1998 0 897,000 497,000 2000 0 897,000 897,000 2001 0 897,000 897,000 2002 0 897,000 897,000 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 497,000 2000 897,000 2001 897,000 2002 897,000 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts 696 Department of Criminal Justice LBB Staff: JK ,CB ,JN