LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 11, 2007

TO:
Honorable Patrick M. Rose, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3108 by Bolton (Relating to caseloads for certain employees of the Department of Family and Protective Services.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3108, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($402,559,970) through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008 ($139,452,594)
2009 ($263,107,376)
2010 ($290,745,251)
2011 ($290,745,251)
2012 ($290,745,251)




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
Probable (Cost) from
GR MATCH FOR MEDICAID
758
Probable (Cost) from
FEDERAL FUNDS
555
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007
2008 ($133,875,869) ($5,576,725) ($25,153,934) 2,211.2
2009 ($252,774,938) ($10,332,438) ($47,605,985) 4,073.0
2010 ($279,471,756) ($11,273,495) ($52,727,453) 5,903.0
2011 ($279,471,756) ($11,273,495) ($52,727,453) 5,903.0
2012 ($279,471,756) ($11,273,495) ($52,727,453) 5,903.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to ensure that average caseloads per worker in the child protective services (CPS) division do not exceed 12 for investigative caseworkers and 17 for case management caseworkers providing services through conservatorship, foster and adoption programs, and family-based safety services. DFPS must also ensure that certain other average caseloads per worker do not exceed the following guidelines: 25 for adult protective services (APS) specialists providing services through in-home programs, 75 facilities for child care licensing (CCL) specialists performing inspections, and 8 cases involving allegations of child abuse or neglect and 17 cases not involving allegations of abuse or neglect for child-care licensing investigators.


Methodology

For purposes of this fiscal note, DFPS assumes all required caseload per worker targets will be achieved by the end of fiscal year 2009 due to a need to phase in caseworkers; however, DFPS indicates it is unlikely the agency could hire the number of staff needed, or acquire sufficient office space and equipment for the additional staff, by the end of fiscal year 2009. DFPS utilized Health and Human Services Commission caseload forecasts in their analysis. Estimated caseworkers employed at the end of fiscal year 2009 are assumed to be maintained in fiscal years 2010 through 2012.

Supporting Staff: For CPS workers, DFPS assumes that for every five caseworkers added, one supervisor will be needed; for each supervisor added, one administrative assistant and one human services technician will be needed; for every eight supervisors added, one program director will be needed; and for every eight program directors added, one program administrator will be needed. The end result is that for each caseworker added, a total of approximately 1.6 FTEs will be added.

For APS workers, DFPS assumes that for every seven CPS caseworkers added, one supervisor and three-quarters of an administrative technician will be needed and that for every eight supervisors added, one program administrator will be needed. The end result is that for each APS caseworker added, a total of approximately 1.3 FTEs will be added. 

For CCL specialists, DFPS assumes that for every six specialists added, one supervisor and one administrative technician would be needed. The end result is that for each CCL specialist added, a total of approximately 1.3 FTEs will be added.

CPS Investigative Workers: DFPS estimates a caseload per worker of 22.0 in August 2007. DFPS estimates a need for 1,300 additional caseworkers to achieve a caseload per worker of 12. The phase in of caseworkers would result in 881 added during fiscal year 2008 with the remaining 419 added during fiscal year 2009. Including supporting staff 1,434 employees would be added during fiscal year 2008 and an additional 683 during fiscal year 2009.

CPS Case Management Workers: DFPS estimates a caseload per worker of 45.1 for conservatorship, 21.5 for Family-Based Safety Services, and 22.2 for Foster and Adoptive Development in August 2007. DFPS estimates a need for 2,177 additional caseworkers to achieve a caseload per worker of 17 for each program. The phase in of caseworkers would result in 1,476 added during fiscal year 2008 with the remaining 701 added during fiscal year 2009. Including supporting staff 2,396 employees would be added during fiscal year 2008 and an additional 1,137 during fiscal year 2009.

 

APS In-Home Workers: DFPS estimates a need for 105 additional caseworkers to achieve a caseload per worker of 25. The phase in of caseworkers would result in 97 added during fiscal year 2008 with the remaining 8 added during fiscal year 2009. Including supporting staff 123 employees would be added during fiscal year 2008 and an additional 10 during fiscal year 2009.

 

CCL Inspectors: DFPS estimates a current average of 102 facilities per Day Care Licensing specialist and 97 facilities per Residential Child Care Licensing specialist. DFPS estimates a need for 90 additional specialists to achieve a workload of 75 facilities per inspector. All 90 specialists would be added during fiscal year 2008. Including supporting staff 120 employees would be added during fiscal year 2008.

 

CCL Investigators: DFPS estimates both Day Care and Residential Care investigators are currently meeting the required standard of no more than 8 or cases involving allegations of child abuse or neglect and 17 cases not involving allegations of abuse or neglect . No additional staff are needed.

 

Total Cost: DFPS estimates a total cost for an annual average of 2,211.2 additional FTEs in fiscal year 2008 of $164.6 million All Funds, including $139.5 million in General Revenue Funds. For fiscal year 2009, an annual average of 4,073.0 additional FTEs is estimated at a cost of $310.7 million All Funds, including $263.1 million in General Revenue Funds. Fully phased in 5,903.0 FTEs would be needed in fiscal years 2010 through 2012 at an estimated cost of $343.5 million All Funds, including $290.7 million in General Revenue Funds, each fiscal year. If available, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Federal Funds could be used in lieu of some General Revenue Funds estimated to be $92.1 million in fiscal year 2008, $178.3 million in fiscal year 2009, and $198.9 million in fiscal years 2010 through 2012.


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
530 Family and Protective Services, Department of
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, PP, LR