LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
April 8, 1999
TO: Honorable Toby Goodman, Chair, House Committee on
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB3517 by Goodman (Relating to the detention,
adjudication, and disposition of certain persons within
the juvenile justice system.), Committee Report 1st
House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB3517, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: negative impact *
* of $(832,742) through the biennium ending August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Net Impact:
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* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(416,140) *
* 2001 (416,602) *
* 2002 (416,602) *
* 2003 (416,602) *
* 2004 (416,602) *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Probable Probable Probable *
* Year Savings/(Cost) Revenue Savings/(Cost) Savings/(Cost) *
* from General Gain/(Loss) from General from Federal *
* Revenue Fund from Other - Revenue Fund Funds *
* 0001 Appropriated (GR match for (Medicaid) *
* Receipts Medicaid) 0555 *
* 0001 *
* 2000 $(218,610) $512,401 $(197,530) $(314,871) *
* 2001 (218,610) 512,401 (197,992) (314,409) *
* 2002 (218,610) 512,401 (197,992) (314,409) *
* 2003 (218,610) 512,401 (197,992) (314,409) *
* 2004 (218,610) 512,401 (197,992) (314,409) *
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Technology Impact
N/A
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend sections of the Family Code to provide that a
juvenile court may refer a child to a local MHMR authority for
evaluation and services if there was probable cause to believe that a
child suffered from a mental illness or mental retardation. If that
determination was made, the juvenile proceedings would be stayed until a
finding was made by the court. If the court found that evidence
supported a finding of mental illness and the child met the Health and
Safety Code commitment criteria, the court would initiate commitment or
refer the matter to the appropriate court. If the child was found unfit
to proceed by reason of mental retardation, the court would initiate
civil commitment or refer the case to an appropriate court.
Methodology
It is assumed that the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation (MHMR) would receive 38 additional referrals - 9 referrals
for determination of fitness resulting from mental illness and 29
referrals persons for determination of mental retardation. Medicaid
eligible costs for Medicaid eligible clients will be borne by the
Department of Health. Non-medicaid eligible costs are assumed at MHMR.
The cost methodology assumes the number of referrals X cost per day
(MH=$260.90, MR=$131.53) X 90 days as stated in the bill.
According to MHMR, approximately 24% of the total referrals for mental
illness and 100% of mental retardation referrals are Medicaid eligible.
Medicaid eligible costs are federally reimbursed at a rate of 61.45%.
The General Revenue match for these Medicaid eligible clients is provided
by the Department of Health. MHMR will receive the reimbursement as
appropriated receipts.
In addition, non-Medicaid medical costs of $2,000 per year per MR
referral are included which are not federally reimbursed.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK, MD, MG, DC