LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                               May 25, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney, Speaker of the House,
               House of Representatives
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB3473  by Naishtat (Relating to prohibiting employer
               retaliation against certain employees who report child
               abuse or neglect.), As Passed 2nd House
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would prohibit employer retaliation against certain employees
who report child abuse or neglect. The bill would further waive
sovereign immunity and cap damages in suits against state or local
governmental entities for violations of the bill's provisions. The
Office of the Attorney General indicates that there may be costs
associated with the waiver of sovereign immunity and resulting suits and
potential judgments against the state; however, these costs could be
reasonably absorbed within existing resources.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   302   Office of the Attorney General
LBB Staff:         JK, JO, AJ