LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 18, 2003

TO:	Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1903 by Farrar (Relating to testimony regarding parental alienation syndrome in a suit regarding the conservatorship of, or the possession of or access to, a child.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would authorize a court to allow testimony regarding parental alienation syndrome in a suit regarding the conservatorship of or possession of or access to a child in the following circumstances:

(1) the syndrome is recognized as a valid medical or psychiatric condition in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association and

(2) is admissible as testimony of expert witnesses under the Rules of Evidence.

The proposal would not have fiscal implications for the state.

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, GO, VDS, AJ