LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 15, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Health
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB288  by Maxey (Relating to authorizing harm reduction
               programs to reduce the risk of HIV infection, AIDS,
               hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.), Committee Report 1st
               House, Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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According to the Department of Health, any resources needed to implement
the provisions of the bill could be absorbed by the agency's budget.
  
Local Government Impact
  
The bill would allow local health authorities to establish harm reduction
programs. Local health authorities opting to establish harm reduction
programs could experience costs associated with the supplies, such as
providing needles and syringes free of charge, and staff required to
distribute supplies and provide services, such as offering education on
the transmission of certain disease and referral to drug treatment and
other health services. In some cases, a portion of the cost could be
recovered using federal funds or private grant proceeds.
  
  
Source Agencies:   501   Texas Department of Health
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, RM