LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 30, 2003

TO:	Honorable Jaime Capelo, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2197 by Farabee (Relating to the disclosure of certain information to a cemetery organization or funeral establishment for the purpose of making a grave. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would add Sections 576.0055 and 595.0055 to the Health and Safety Code to allow the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) to release the name, date of birth, and date of death of a person who dies while a patient at a mental health facility or while a resident of a residential care facility. The bill would permit information to be released to a representative of a cemetery organization or funeral establishment, as defined in Section 711.001.  The bill would prohibit information from being released if the person or person's guardian provides written instructions to the contrary to the facility administrator.

 

The bill would become effective immediately upon a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house.  If not, the bill would take effect September 1, 2003. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	655 Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
LBB Staff:	JK, EB, KF, MB