LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 8, 2007

TO:	Honorable David Swinford, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1703 by Howard, Charlie (Relating to prohibiting the transfer of an embryo except in an adoption proceeding; providing a penalty.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require a court order authorizing the adoption of a human embryo before the embryo could be transferred to another person. A court is prohibited from granting the adoption of an embryo unless parental rights of the genetic parents have been relinquished or otherwise waived and the court confirms compensation has not been paid to a parent to induce the relinquishment of parental rights. The adoption must be in the best interest of the embryo. Under the provisions of the bill a person commits and offense if they buy, sell or receive a human embryo for valuable consideration or if they participate in human embryo trafficking. An offense of this nature is a Class A misdemeanor.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, SD, MN