LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 3, 2007

TO:	Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1396 by Dukes (Relating to the Office for the Elimination of Health Disparities and the health disparities task force.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Sections one and two of the bill would transfer the Office for the Elimination of Health Disparities (OEHD) and the Health disparities task force from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
 
The bill would require HHSC to maintain an office for the elimination of health disparities. The task force would be required to investigate, and report on issues related to health disparities; develop strategies for the elimination of health disparities; monitor the progress; and advise each health and human services agency on targeted programs and funding.  HHSC would be required to provide the necessary staff and facilities to assist the task force in performing its duties. A biennial report to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house on the progress of each health and human services agency would be required. 

DSHS would be required to transfer any property, records, and personnel related to the OEHD by January 1, 2008.  All OEHD federal funds would transfer to HHSC. OEHD is the recipient of a federal grant Texas State Partnership to Address and Eliminate Health Disparities. This grant is a five-year project which is currently in its second grant year.
 
OEHD includes five full-time equivalents, which would transfer to HHSC. Travel and operating funds would be transferred based on a per-FTE allocation.  The bill would require the transfer of the Office for Elimination of Health Disparities not later than January 1, 2008.

No significant fiscal impact is anticipated, since existing funds would be transferred from DSHS to HHSC.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JOB, PP, CL, KE, MB