LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session March 8, 1999 TO: Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health Services FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB519 by Zaffirini (Relating to testing for certain infections during pregnancy or on delivery of a child.), 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 inclusion of serologic testing for hepatitis B infection in pregnant women during gestation and at delivery. According to the Department of Health (TDH), the bill provisions would conform with current standard medical practices. Local Government Impact According to the Department of Health, the bill would require city and county health departments either to perform the prenatal serologic testing for hepatitis B infection or refer the specimen to the TDH's laboratory. It is assumed that city and county health departments serving populations at risk for contracting hepatitis B and also performing the testing in-house would absorb the greatest fiscal impact. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, TP, RM