LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  February 11, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 290
          Committee on Health & Human Services                              By: Zaffirini/et al.
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB290 ( Relating 
to electronic assistance provided by the Health and Human Services 
Commission.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB290-As Introduced
         
No significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated. 
The bill would implement recommendations contained in the Texas 
Performance Review HHS 22 in the Comptroller of Public Account's 
Disturbing the Peace.
         

         
 
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 531 of the Government 
Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission to 
develop, with the Department of Information Resources, an internet 
site that would provide assistance for human services providers. 
 The provisions outline subjects that may be included on the 
internet site.  The bill specifies that the department may provide 
access to the same or a similar site on any other widely used 
computer or telecommunications network or service.  

The 
bill would require the Commission to file a report on the internet 
site with agency heads of health and human services agencies 
no later than September 1, 1998.

The development and maintenance 
costs of an internet site would be the responsibility of the 
HHSC.  It is assumed that the Commission would implement the 
system within its existing resources or by redirecting other 
health and human service agency funds and technical resources 
for this project.  These costs would be offset by eliminating 
duplication among technical assistance functions and by reducing 
the number and frequency of field visits and technical assistance 
conferences.  

It is also assumed that DIR would work with 
HHSC to develop and set-up the internet site and to assist in 
establishing the necessary network connections.
          
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   529   Health and Human Services Commission
                                         313   Department of Information Resources
                                         304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
                                         Comptroller of Public Accounts
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,AZ