LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  February 20, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 290, Committee Report 1st House
          Committee on Health & Human Services                              By: Zaffirini
          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-Committee Report 1st House
         
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.
         

         
 
FISCAL ANALYSIS

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 health and human 
services agencies, in conjunction with the Department of Information 
Resources, to enhance their existing internet sites to provide 
technical assistance for human services providers.  The provisions 
outline subjects that may be included on the internet site. 
  

The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission 
and health and human services agencies to file a report on the 
internet sites with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, and the Senate Committee on 
Health and Human Services no later than September 1, 1998.


METHODOLOGY

It 
is assumed that the Commission would coordinate with other agencies 
on the content of existing internet home pages.  Health and 
human services agencies should be able to comply with the provisions 
of the bill using existing resources. These agencies currently 
own and operate the hardware and software needed to maintain 
useable websites accessible to human service providers.

It 
is also assumed that the Department of Information Resources 
would work with the health and human services agencies to enhance 
the internet sites 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
                                         304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
                                         324   Department of Human Services
                                         330   Rehabilitation Commission
                                         340   Department on Aging
                                         501   Department of Health
                                         313   Department of Information Resources
                                         501   Department of Health
                                         530   Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB