LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
March 18, 1997
TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 910
Committee on Health & Human Services By: Zaffirini
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB910 ( Relating
to the use of electronic transfer and data matching in connection
with certain benefits programs.) this office has detemined the
following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB910-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
negative impact of $(300,000) to General Revenue Related Funds
through the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to continue the Interagency
Task Force on Electronic Benefits Transfers. The bill would
require the task force to advise and assist the Health and Human
Services Commission in adding new benefit programs to the statewide
electronic benefits transfer system.
The bill would require
the Health and Human Services Commission to implement a data
matching system among all agencies using electronic funds transfer
to enhance the state's fraud detection.
The bill would require
the Department of Health to implement a data-matching project
to locate and encourage qualified individuals to participate
in the federal special supplemental food program for women,
infants, and children (WIC) by matching their databases with
relevant databases from other state agencies.
The bill would
require that cost-benefits analyses of the feasibility of electronic
benefits transfers in conjunction with direct deposit to distribute
child support payments, WIC benefits, and unemployment benefits
be completed by the Office of the Attorney General, Texas Workforce
Commission, and Health Department.
Methodolgy
The bill would implement Texas Performance Review (TPR) recommendation
GG8 in Disturbing the Peace: The Challenge of Change in Texas
Government.
Annual costs of $300,000 are identified to
implement a data matching system among agencies. This estimate
assumes that the HHSC will enter into a consultant contract
for the data matching system project and that 50 percent of
the project costs will be paid with federal funds.
It is
assumed that the Department of Health will enter into interagency
agreements with other health and human services agencies to
implement the data matching requirements of the bill. It is
assumed that any costs associated with the data matching implementation
will be funded with existing federal funds. Although it is
expected that implementing these provisions will result in increased
federal funding and benefits to women and children through the
WIC program, the amount cannot be determined.
It is anticipated
that other agency activities related to the task force and the
cost-benefit analyses can be absorbed within existing agency
resources.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Five Year Impact:
Fiscal Year Probable Probable
Savings/(Cost) Savings/(Cost)
from General from Federal Funds
Revenue Fund
0001 0555
1998 ($150,000) ($150,000)
1998 (150,000) (150,000)
2000 (150,000) (150,000)
2001 (150,000) (150,000)
2002 (150,000) (150,000)
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 ($150,000)
1999 (150,000)
2000 (150,000)
2001 (150,000)
2002 (150,000)
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source: Agencies: 405 Department of Public Safety
330 Rehabilitation Commission
529 Health and Human Services Commission
302 Office of the Attorney General
324 Department of Human Services
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
501 Department of Health
320 Texas Workforce Commission
501 Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK ,BB ,AZ