LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 8, 2003

TO:
Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1690 by Phillips (Relating to the time in which a final order must be rendered in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1690, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,661,948) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 ($1,925,893)
2005 ($2,736,055)
2006 ($2,823,709)
2007 ($3,117,158)
2008 ($3,686,225)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Probable Savings from
GR MATCH FOR TITLE IV-E
8008 		Probable (Cost) from
GR MATCH FOR TITLE IV-E
8008
2004 $74,708 ($1,130,736) $74,708 ($846,516)
2005 $164,358 ($1,662,579) $164,358 ($1,262,569)
2006 $258,490 ($1,805,626) $258,490 ($1,388,826)
2007 $357,329 ($2,069,197) $357,329 ($1,597,149)
2008 $461,110 ($2,490,889) $461,110 ($1,916,579)

Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GR MATCH FOR MEDICAID
758 		Probable Savings from
FEDERAL FUNDS
555 		Probable (Cost) from
FEDERAL FUNDS
555 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004 ($98,057) $64,036 ($900,109) 9.0
2005 ($139,623) $140,879 ($1,330,533) 13.0
2006 ($146,237) $221,563 ($1,450,434) 16.0
2007 ($165,470) $306,282 ($1,663,210) 17.0
2008 ($200,977) $395,237 ($2,000,179) 21.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would authorize a court to grant a second continuance in conservator cases.

Methodology

According to the Department of Protective Regulatory Services (PRS), there would be savings, as well as costs, associated with this proposal. The additional time that a continuance would afford a family would in some cases result in a child returning home. Without the additional time, the parental rights would have been terminated, and there would have been expenditures associated with the child's remaining in foster care. PRS assumes that 23 children who would have otherwise remained in foster care, would instead be returning home. This number is inflated by 5 percent per year.

PRS estimates that 279 cases per year would have increased foster care stays resulting from the second continuance. PRS assumes that 95% of these cases would have had the same outcome (the child returns home or is placed with a relative) with or without the additional time. This number of cases is multiplied by the average daily cost of foster care ($58.48) for an additional 6 months. Of these continued cases, 5 percent are assumed to result in termination of parental rights, and the remaining children would be returned home or placed with a relative. The number of cases is inflated by 5 percent per year.

PRS also assumes the need for additional FTEs to provide services for the children during the additional 6 months in foster care.


Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 530 Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
LBB Staff:
JK, JO, GO, KE, AJ