LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 25, 2007

TO:	Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB221 by Lucio (Relating to birth records of adopted children.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB221, As Introduced: an impact of $0 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.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008	$0
2009	$0
2010	$0
2011	$0
2012	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable (Cost) from VITAL STATISTICS ACCOUNT 19	Probable Revenue Gain from VITAL STATISTICS ACCOUNT 19
2008	($378,307)	$325,000
2009	($160,639)	$162,500
2010	($160,639)	$162,500
2011	($160,639)	$162,500
2012	($160,639)	$162,500

Fiscal Year	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007
2008	3.0
2009	3.0
2010	3.0
2011	3.0
2012	3.0

Fiscal Analysis

When authorized, the bill would require the state registrar to provide a noncertified copy of a birth certificate, a contact preference form, an updated medical history, and/or intermediary contact information to an adopted person upon request. The bill would require the state registrar to make available contact preference forms and updated medical history forms, upon request from birth parents and on the internet, and would authorize a birth parent to file these forms with the state registrar. The bill would require the state registrar to collect intermediary contact information, when applicable, from birth parents and to provide this information to adopted persons. The bill would authorize the state registrar to charge a reasonable fee for certain services provided under the bill.

The bill would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), licensed child-placing agencies, or an entity placing a child for adoption to inform birth parents of the provisions of the bill. DFPS indicates the bill would not have a significant fiscal impact to the department.

Methodology

The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) estimates 3 additional Full-Time-Equivalent (FTE) positions would be needed to implement the provisions of the bill, which include processing certain birth certificate requests and contact preference and updated medical history forms. Salaries and associated costs total $167,587 in fiscal year 2008 and $152,119 in each subsequent fiscal year. It is assumed the costs estimated for the bill would be paid from General Revenue-Dedicated Account 19, Vital Statistics. 

DSHS indicates it would charge a fee of $65 per request for a birth certificate copy, which would cover the department's cost estimates for the bill. The department estimates 5,000 requests in fiscal year 2008 and 2,500 requests in each subsequent fiscal year for estimated revenue of $325,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $162,500 in each subsequent fiscal year. It is assumed the revenue would be deposited in General Revenue-Dedicated Account 19, Vital Statistics.

Technology

DSHS estimates a one-time cost of $200,000 in fiscal year 2008 for a system to automate the processes required by the bill. The bill does not require an automated system, but the department indicates additional FTEs would be necessary if a manual system were used. The department estimates additional costs for hardware and software of $10,720 in fiscal year 2008 and $8,520 in each subsequent fiscal year.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JOB, MN, PP, SSt