LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 19, 2003

TO:	Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2609 by Coleman (Relating to the establishment of mental health court programs.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to allow the commissioners court of a county to create a mental health court program for mentally ill and mentally retarded misdemeanants. The cost to implement the program would be borne by the counties resulting in no significant fiscal impact to the state.

Local Government Impact

Costs to counties to implement the provisions of the bill would vary depending on the level of need for the program based on the potential number of eligible participants in each county. (The Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments estimates that 15,000 misdemeanants statewide would meet the criteria specified by the bill.) The costs would be offset to some degree by the fees collected from program participants, if they are able to pay.

 

There are no counties that are currently operating a mental health court program.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 655 Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

LBB Staff:

JK, AB, KG, EB, VDS