LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 2, 2003

TO:	Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2344 by Moreno, Joe E. (Relating to authorized costs and fees in Title IV-D Cases.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would increase the amount of the fee that the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division (CSD) must pay for each item of service of process in child support enforcement and related matters from $45 to $65.

Under current law, the federal government reimburses the CSD for 66% of its expenditures. The CSD passes through 66% of the cost for service of process to the county, and the county pays the remaining 34% of the cost. The proposal would result in an increase in the pass-through to the counties but would have no significant fiscal impact to the CSD. 

Local Government Impact

Counties with eligible Title IV-D agencies (usually a domestic relations office) would see gains in revenue due to implementation of the bill. El Paso County (population 692,152, annual budget of $184.8 million) forecasts an increase of $85,519 in revenues from the fee increase. Harris County (population 3.47 million; annual budget $970 million) estimates an increase in revenue of approximately $490,000 per year, or $2.45 million over five years.

 

Dallas County (population 2.2 million, annual budget of $369 million) reported that an estimated 38,800 pieces of process are created for service by constables. Approximately ten percent will be for individuals not in Dallas County, leaving 34,900. Implementing the fee increase would result in an additional $465,400 for the county.

Source Agencies:	302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:	JK, GO, KE, AJ, KG