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
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* 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. *
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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:
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*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 *
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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