LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 23, 2001
TO: Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
Health
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB1586 by Moncrief (Relating to fees for copies of birth
and death certificates.), As Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB1586, As Engrossed: 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 *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Probable Probable Change in *
* Year Revenue Savings/(Cost) Revenue Number of State *
* Gain/(Loss) from Vital Gain/(Loss) Employees from *
* from Vital Statistics from All Local FY 2001 *
* Statistics Account/ Units of *
* Account/ GR-Dedicated Government *
* GR-Dedicated 0019 *
* 0019 *
* 2002 $2,371,001 $(2,371,001) $1,669,000 5.2 *
* 2003 2,413,000 (2,413,000) 1,700,000 7.0 *
* 2004 2,457,000 (2,457,000) 1,730,000 6.0 *
* 2005 2,500,000 (2,500,000) 1,761,000 6.0 *
* 2006 2,548,000 (2,548,000) 1,795,000 6.0 *
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Technology Impact
According to the Department of Health (TDH), costs of $1,108,416 in FY
2002, and $485,276 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 each
additional FTE. Other technology costs in FYs 2004-06 would total
$206,252.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would increase the fee collected relating to birth certificate
copies to $5 from $2. Two dollars of this fee collected would be
deposited to in the state treasury to the credit of the General Revenue
Fund, and three dollars to the credit of the Vital Statistics Fund. The
bill would also authorize a $2 fee for a certified copy of a death
certificate, also to be deposited in the State treasury to the credit of
the Vital Statistics Fund. The bill would require that funds deposited in
the Vital Statistics Fund be used by the Bureau of Vital Statistics for
purposes specified in the bill.
The bill would authorize the local registrar or county clerk to retain
$1.40 as a local processing fee for birth certificate copies, and remit
$3.60 of the fee to the comptroller. The comptroller would be required
to deposit half of the remittance in the General Revenue Fund and half
of the remittance in the Vital Statistics Fund. The bill would also
require a local registrar or county clerk to remit $1 of a fee collected
for death certificate copies to the comptroller for deposit in the Vital
Statistics Fund. The bill would require the use of funds retained by the
local registrar or county clerk for purposes specified in the bill.
Methodology
It is assumed TDH would implement the provisions of the bills that
specify how the funds in the newly-created Vital Statistics Enhancement
Fund may be used.
A three month implementation period is assumed. 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.
Total fees collected and deposited in the Vital Statistics Fund are
reflected in the table above and are estimates from the Office of the
Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Local Government Impact
Under the provisions of the bill, local registrars statewide would
experience a revenue gain, as reflected in the 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: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 501 Texas
Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, HD, KF, RM