LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 29, 2005

TO:	Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2099 by Dutton (Relating to investigations of reports of child abuse and neglect.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Section 1 of the bill would amend Section 261.303 of the Family Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to respond within 24 hours after a report of abuse and neglect that is assigned the highest priority and within 72 hours after a report of abuse and neglect that is assigned the second highest priority.  It is assumed that there would be no significant fiscal impact based on previous DFPS assessment of this language. 

Section 2 would amend Section 261.406 of the Family Code to require local law enforcement agencies to investigate reports of abuse or neglect involving children in public or private schools under the jurisdiction of the Texas Education Agency.  It is assumed that some savings (approximately $300,000 per year in General Revenue beginning in fiscal year 2007) would be realized in association with this provision.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2006.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.  Costs to local law enforcement to implement Section 2 of the bill would depend upon the number of violators which would then determine the number of offenders to arrest and prosecute.  DFPS reported 767 school-related investigations in fiscal year 2004; assuming that the number of investigations remains stable, the costs to local law enforcement are not expected to be significant.

Source Agencies:

530 Department of Family and Protective Services

LBB Staff:

JOB, LB, KF, NM