LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 14, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 239, As Engrossed
          Committee on Human Services                              By: West,Royce
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB239 ( Relating 
to judicial review of certain decisions about public assistance 
benefits administered by the Texas Department of Human Services.) 
this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB239-As Engrossed
         

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 
 

         
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal 
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions 
of the bill.

         
 
          
The bill would amend Chapter 2001 of the Government Code.  The 
bill would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to 
provide formal hearings to resolve contested denials or withdrawals 
of financial assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
grants).  DHS estimates 1,609 cases per year will be contested. 
 DHS assumes that the additional workload associated with hearings 
could be absorbed by current staff.  

The bill would amend 
Chapter 31 of the Human Resources Code.  The bill would allow 
applicants or recipients who are denied public financial assistance 
(through the new hearing process) to appeal to district court. 
 The Office of the Attorney General would be required to represent 
the state.  DHS estimates that 23 appeals related to financial 
assistance will occur per year.  It is assumed that the Office 
of the Attorney General could absorb the additional workload 
with current staff. 

The bill would prohibit charging the 
applicant or recipient of assistance for the cost of preparing 
the record and the transcript.  This cost would be absorbed 
by DHS.

No significant fiscal implication to units of local 
government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   324   Department of Human Services
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,PP