LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 6, 2003

TO:	Honorable Jaime Capelo, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2836 by Brown, Betty (Relating to general provisions proceedings for court ordered mental health services.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 574 of the Health and Safety Code to require judges to whom teleconferencing technology has been made available, to utilize this technology to hear expert testimony by licensed practitioners employed by the state or Local Mental Health Authorities in hearings for court-ordered mental health services.

Pursuant to the language of the bill, this cost estimate assumes the courts and state mental health facilities will utilize existing teleconferencing equipment and no new or additional equipment would necessarily be purchased.

The bill does not specify an effective date for the change.

Local Government Impact

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the court system of local governments, because the bill would require teleconferencing only if the equipment were already available to the court.

Source Agencies:

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

LBB Staff:

JK, EB, KF, MB, KG