LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              March 7, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Human Services
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB27  by Nelson (Relating to parental consent before an
               abortion may be performed on a minor; providing a
               criminal penalty.), 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 require the Department of Health to develop and provide a
certification form to be used by a physician to certify that a medical
emergency existed and the required consent could not be obtained.  It is
assumed that costs associated with providing the certification form
would be absorbed using existing resources.  The bill would also require
the clerk of the Supreme Court of Texas to create an application form to
be submitted by minors seeking judicial consent without parental consent
and a notice of appeal form.  According to the Office of Court
Administration, this requirement would have minimal fiscal impact.
  
Local Government Impact
  
The bill would require the county courts to hear and rule on an
application submitted by a minor seeking judicial consent without
parental consent. Filing fee or court costs may not be assessed against
a minor.  According to the Office of Court Administration, county courts
would bear the cost of an appointed attorney or a guardian ad litem for
a minor.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, TP, RM