LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
February 6, 1997
TO: Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 203
Committee on Finance By: Shapiro
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 the institutional division
of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.) this office has detemined
the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB203-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.
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 the
institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) who
initiate visits to a health care provider to make a $3.00 copayment per visit to
TDCJ. Application of this provision will apply to all inmates confined in the institutional
division on or after September 1, 1997. 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 dedicated Compensation to Victims of Crime account in the General
Revenue Fund.
Methodolgy
It is estimated that 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 the institutional division 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 Compensation to
GR-Dedicated Account - Victims of Crime
Account - Account/
GR-Dedicated
8021 8021 0469
1998 ($100,000) $825,000 $0
1998 825,000 725,000
2000 825,000 825,000
2001 825,000 825,000
2002 825,000 825,000
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.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source: Agencies: 696 Department of Criminal Justice
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK ,RR ,JN