LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 7, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Mike Moncrief, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Health & Human Services
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB161  by Zaffirini (Relating to authorizing transitional
               support services to former recipients of TANF benefits.),
               As Introduced
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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There would be no significant fiscal impact related to this bill only if
services provided were similar to those currently available.  If support
services such as housing-related assistance were routinely made
available to all TANF clients transitioning from welfare, the cost would
be considerable.  The Department of Human Services and the Texas
Workforce Commission would provide transitional support services to
recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) who are no
longer eligible for assistance due to increased earnings or exhaustion
of time-limited benefits.  Some of the transitional support services
listed in the bill are generally available to these clients now (e.g.,
child care and transportation assistance).  Others might be available
under very limited circumstances (e.g., emergency assistance).
According to the bill, provision of the services is subject to the
availability of funds and agency determination of need and
appropriateness.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   324   Texas Department of Human Services, 501   Texas
                   Department of Health, 320   Texas Workforce Commission
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, KE