LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
February 11, 1997
TO: Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 203, Committee Report 1st House
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-Committee Report 1st House
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 an institution 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 would apply to all inmates confined in TDCJ institutions
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 dedicated Compensation to Victims of Crime account in 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 institutions
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) $597,000 $0
1998 897,000 497,000
2000 897,000 897,000
2001 897,000 897,000
2002 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 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:
LBB Staff: JK ,RR ,JN