LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 18, 2001 TO: Honorable Toby Goodman, Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB638 by Turner, Sylvester (relating to contesting a voluntary statement of paternity or acknowledgment of paternity.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would provide for suits to contest voluntary statements of paternity under certain circumstances. The bill would require courts, upon a preliminary finding that there is credible evidence of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact, to order scientifically accepted parentage testing. The person contesting the voluntary statement of paternity would pay the cost of such test. Voluntary statements of paternity executed before September 1, 1999, could be contested pursuant to the provisions of the bill, and these suits must be filed before September 1, 2003. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, JC, AJ