LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session April 15, 1997 TO: Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 239, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted Committee on Jurisprudence By: West, Royce Senate 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-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted 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