LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 22, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 1309
          Committee on Health & Human Services                              By: Patterson,Jerry
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1309 ( Relating 
to the regulation of the use of electroconvulsive therapy.) 
this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1309-As Introduced
         
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 provide restrictions on the use 
of electroconvulsive therapy, including a prohibition on the 
use of the therapy on persons aged 65 and older.  Some savings 
to the state would result if electroconvulsive therapy was no 
longer used on persons aged 65 and older at a state hospital. 
 According to the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental 
Retardation, some additional costs would be realized due to 
extended hospital stays for patients who will not receive the 
electroconvulsive therapy.
         
 
          
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government 
is anticipated.  Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation 
Centers may experience longer or more expensive care requirements 
by having to keep some patients in state hospitals for extended 
stays if electroconvulsive therapy may no longer be used.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   501   Department of Health
                                         655   Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,KF