LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 13, 2005

TO:
Honorable Suzanna Gratia Hupp, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2967 by Martinez (Relating to the transportation of certain mental health patients.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2967, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($14,097,612) through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2006 ($7,048,806)
2007 ($7,048,806)
2008 ($7,048,806)
2009 ($7,048,806)
2010 ($7,048,806)




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2006 ($7,048,806)
2007 ($7,048,806)
2008 ($7,048,806)
2009 ($7,048,806)
2010 ($7,048,806)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Section 574.045 (a) of the Health and Safety Code, relating to transportation of certain mental health patients. The bill would designate the priority order of parties responsible for the transportation of patients committed to a mental health facility. The priority order would be as follows: 1) a relative or other responsible person 2) a mental health facility administrator 3) the local mental health authority 4) a special officer for mental health assignment and 5) a sheriff or constable, if none of the above are available.

The Department of State Health Services may reimburse both the special officer for mental health and the sheriff or constable, if funds are appropriated for this purpose, or as provided by section 571.018.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.


Methodology

The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) provides an estimate of $426 per admission (personnel and operations costs). DSHS estimates 16,631 transports per year, for a potential fiscal impact of $7,084,806 per year.

Local Government Impact

If funds are not appropriated to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to reimburse sheriffs, constables, special officers for mental health assignments, or other county employees that transport committed or detained patients, the reimbursements will have to be provided by the county. DSHS estimates a cost of $426 per admission, and the total cost to a county would depend on the number of admissions in a particular county in a fiscal year.


Source Agencies:
537 Department of State Health Services, 539 Department of Aging and Disability Services
LBB Staff:
JOB, KF, KJG, MB, CL, PP