LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 21, 2007

TO:	Honorable Patrick M. Rose, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2177 by Deshotel (Relating to state coordination of transportation services for certain clients of health and human services agencies.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend various sections of the Transportation Code relating to the coordination of transportation services for certain clients of agencies under the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The bill would clarify that HHSC shall contract with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) only for the delivery of transportation services to eligible clients. The bill would specify that TxDOT may not assume responsibility for client case review, case management, or coordination or authorization of benefits and that the department and its contractors shall direct all inquiries related to benefit coverage or authorization to HHSC or TWC.

 

The bill would provide that clients of eligible HHSC and TWC programs who receive transportation assistance that is not a public transportation service must seek reimbursement or advanced funding for those services under the appropriate program directly from HHSC or TWC.

 

This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill would not affect the current memorandum of understanding (MOU) between TWC and TxDOT for the provision of transportation services for certain TWC clients, pursuant to provisions in the General Appropriations Act. Based on the analysis of the TxDOT and HHSC, it is assumed that any services currently provided by TxDOT that would become the responsibility of HHSC as a result of the enactment of the bill could be accommodated through a transfer of existing resources from TxDOT to HHSC. It is assumed that any additional costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

 

The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house or otherwise on September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

320 Texas Workforce Commission, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 601 Department of Transportation

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, MW, TG, MB, KJG