LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 24, 2007

TO:	Honorable Jerry Madden, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB763 by Dutton (Relating to in-prison geriatric communities.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code by requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to establish a program to confine and treat inmates who are 60 years old or older in prison geriatric communities. TDCJ and the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) are required to jointly develop methods of screening and assessing inmates to determine needs as geriatric inmates. It is assumed that TDCJ could implement the provisions of the bill utilizing existing resources and without the construction of additional facilities. However, the bill would require a program specialist from DADS to provide consultation and to develop a protocol on a part-time basis at an annual cost of $12,450 of which $6,225 would be state funds. It is assumed that these costs can be absorbed within the agencies current appropriations.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

539 Aging and Disability Services, Department of, 696 Department of Criminal Justice

LBB Staff:

JOB, ES, GG, SDO