LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 26, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Bob Bullock            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 443, As Passed 2nd House
          Lieutenant Governor                Moncrief
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB443 ( Relating 
to a right to petition a court for an order to seal or destroy 
records related to certain admissions to a mental health facility; 
providing a criminal penalty.) this office has detemined the 
following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB443-As Passed 2nd House
         
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 
 
         
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to allow a person 
to have his/her mental health care records expunged under certain 
conditions with the approval of the court.  The increase in 
workload for the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental 
Retardation (TDMHMR) is expected to be minor and can be accomplished 
with existing staff and resources. 
         
 
          
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government 
is anticipated.  In order for a person's records to be expunged, 
a court would have to hold a hearing and issue an order to expunge 
the records.  The number of these cases is expected to be rare 
with the majority of courts being unaffected.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB