LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 15, 2007

TO:	Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3008 by Pierson (Relating to the establishment of a pilot program to match certain teens in foster care with adult mentors.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 264 of the Family Code by adding a new section that would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to establish a mentorship pilot program in Tarrant, Denton, Dallas, and Collin counties that would include contracting with a private or nonprofit entity to pair foster children who are 14 years of age or older with volunteer adult mentors. DFPS would also be required to contract with a public institution of higher education in the same geographic region as the pilot program for the institution to conduct an evaluation of the program. The new section would expire on September 1, 2011.

DFPS indicates that there would be some cost to implement the provisions of the bill, but these costs are expected to be absorbed within the agency's existing budget.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 731 Texas Woman's University

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, VJC