LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 28, 2001 TO: Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public Health FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB761 by Coleman (Relating to fees for copies of birth and death certificates.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * HB761, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending * * August 31, 2003. * * * * The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal * * basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of * * the bill. * ************************************************************************** General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: **************************************************** * Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) * * Impact to General Revenue Related * * Funds * * 2002 $0 * * 2003 0 * * 2004 0 * * 2005 0 * * 2006 0 * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable (Cost) Probable Probable Change in * * Year from New Revenue Gain Revenue Gain Number of State * * General Revenue from New from All Local Employees from * * Dedicated General Revenue Units of FY 2001 * * Vital Dedicated Government * * Statistics Vital * * Enhancement Fund Statistics * * Enhancement Fund * * 2002 $(2,665,928) $2,363,000 $270,000 5.2 * * 2003 (2,699,790) 2,405,000 275,000 7.0 * * 2004 (2,242,964) 2,449,000 280,000 6.0 * * 2005 (2,216,964) 2,492,000 285,000 6.0 * * 2006 (2,216,964) 2,540,000 291,000 6.0 * *************************************************************************** Technology Impact According to the Department of Health (TDH), costs of $1,108,416 in FY 2002 and $496,102 in FY 2003 would be needed for the development and enhancement of new and existing technology systems. It is estimated $14,000 would be expended in FY 2002 for personal computers for the additional FTEs. Fiscal Analysis The bill would increase the fee collected relating to birth certificate copies $4 from $2. Half of the revenue collected would be deposited in the General Revenue Fund and the remainder in the newly-created Vital Statistics Enhancement Fund, both in the State Treasury. The bill would also authorize a $1 fee for death certificate copies, also to be deposited in the newly-created Vital Statistics Enhancement Fund. The local processing fee retained by the local registrar or county clerk, would increase to $0.40 from $0.20, for each certificate issued. The bill would require that funds deposited in the Vital Statistics Enhancement Fund be used by the Bureau of Vital Statistics for purposes specified in the bill. Note: The bill would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either within or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature. Methodology It is assumed TDH would implement the provisions of the bill that specify how the funds in the newly-created Vital Statistics Enhancement Fund may be used. According to TDH, expenditures would include grants awarded for local system enhancements; various hardware and software for the development and enhancement of new and existing systems; expansion and enhancement of existing technology; service and maintenance contracts; and technical/educational assistance and training for local registration officials. TDH estimates seven additional FTEs would be needed in FYs 2002-03, and six FTEs in FYs 2004-06. A three month start up period is assumed for implementation. According to the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the estimated revenue deposited in the Vital Statistics Enhancement Fund would be $4,768,000 for the 2002-03 biennium. Local Government Impact Under the provisions of the bill, local registrars statewide would experience a revenue gain, as reflected in the State fiscal impact tables above. The amount of gain for each local registrar's office would vary. Local courts that are already using automated systems may also experience a slight savings as the Bureau of Vital Statistics implements a paperless electronic reporting system. Source Agencies: 501 Texas Department of Health, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, HD, RM, DB