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:  SB30  by Shapiro (Relating to the parental notification
               required before an abortion may be performed on a minor;
               providing a criminal penalty.), As Introduced
  
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*  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 prepare a
certification form to be used by a physician to certify that a medical
emergency existed and the required notice could not be obtained before an
abortion was performed.  The bill would also require the clerk of the
Supreme Court of Texas to create the application form to be submitted by
unemancipated minors seeking judicial consent without parental
notification and notice of appeal form.
  
Local Government Impact
  
The bill would require the county courts to hear and rule on an
application submitted by an unemancipated minor seeking judicial consent
without parental notification.  Filing fee or court costs may not be
assessed against a minor.  According to the Office of Court
Administration, the 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