LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 15, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Mike Moncrief, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Health & Human Services
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB684  by Madla (Relating to the definition of
               non-physician mental health professional for purposes of
               a proceeding or evaluation under the Texas Mental Health
               Code.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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This bill would allow the inclusion of licensed marriage and family
therapist to the list of non-physician mental health professionals found
in Section 571.003(15) of the Health and Safety Code.  These individuals
may provide court testimony when involuntary status is under
consideration by a judge.  They also may perform an 'independent
evaluation' at the request of any psychiatric inpatient.  There are not
significant new costs associated with adding this category of
professional to the list.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   655   TX Dept. of Mental Health & Mental Retardation
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, MB