LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session May 3, 2001 TO: Honorable Elliott Naishtat, Chair, House Committee on Human Services FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB962 by Moncrief (Relating to a pilot project to address the need for more child protective services workers in certain regions of the state.), As Engrossed ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * SB962, As Engrossed: negative impact of $(1,467,569) 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 $(776,153) * * 2003 (691,416) * * 2004 (691,416) * * 2005 (691,416) * * 2006 (691,416) * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: ************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Probable Change in Number of * * Year Savings/(Cost) from Savings/(Cost) from State Employees from * * General Revenue Fund Federal Funds - FY 2001 * * 0001 Federal * * 0555 * * 2002 $(776,153) $(358,905) 30.0 * * 2003 (691,416) (320,165) 28.0 * * 2004 (691,416) (320,165) 28.0 * * 2005 (691,416) (320,165) 28.0 * * 2006 (691,416) (320,165) 28.0 * ************************************************************************** Given the limited availability of TANF federal funds, for the purposes of this fiscal note, General Revenue is assumed as the method of financing. Should additional TANF federal fund become available, $459,926 in FY 2002, and $409,893 in fiscal years 2003-06, in General Revenue costs assumed above could be financed with TANF federal funds. Fiscal Analysis The bill would establish a pilot project to help the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (PRS) meet the need for child protective service specialists (caseworkers) in the region of the state with the highest percentage of authorized caseworker positions unfilled and the highest caseworker turnover rate on the effective date of the Act which is September 1, 2001. PRS must remove the limit on the number of authorized caseworker positions for the target region, increase the number of trainee positions by 200%, increase the number of trainers and related training academy positions, and provide funds to accomplish these purposes. PRS may only terminate the pilot project if the number of caseworkers serving the public in the target region equals or exceeds the number of authorized caseworker positions on August 31, 2001 (immediately before the effective date of the Act). Methodology PRS anticipates that Region 3 (Arlington) will have the highest percentage of authorized caseworker positions unfilled and the highest caseworker turnover rate on September 1, 2001. The agency estimates contract staff would provide training and clerical support during ramp-up of training activities for FY 2002. One recruiter would be hired to keep training classes full for fiscal years 2002 through 2006. The number of new caseworker positions (including trainees) would be 29 for FY 2002, and then fall to 27 for fiscal years 2003 through 2006, as turnover subsides. The method-of-financing includes General Revenue and federal matching funds. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 530 Department of Protective and Regulatory Services LBB Staff: JK, HD, NM