| TO: | Honorable Patrick M. Rose, Chair, House Committee on Human Services |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB188 by Alonzo (Relating to the rights of children and the education of parents regarding their duties as parents.), As Introduced |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2010 | ($894,363) |
| 2011 | ($635,700) |
| 2012 | ($425,000) |
| 2013 | ($425,000) |
| 2014 | ($425,000) |
| Fiscal Year | Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1 |
Probable (Cost) from Federal Funds 555 |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ($894,363) | ($99,470) |
| 2011 | ($635,700) | ($34,300) |
| 2012 | ($425,000) | $0 |
| 2013 | ($425,000) | $0 |
| 2014 | ($425,000) | $0 |
SECTION 1.01 would amend Chapter 151, Family Code, to establish a Children's Bill of Rights. SECTION 1.02 would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to develop and implement a statewide public awareness and outreach campaign about the Children's Bill of Rights. It would also authorize DFPS to accept gifts, grants, and donations for this purpose. The section would expire on December 31, 2011. SECTION 1.03 would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to present a written proclamation of the Children's Bill of Rights to parents. It would also require the Executive Commissioner of Health and Human Services to adopt rules to administer the new requirement.
SECTION 2.01 would amend Chapter 130, Education Code, to authorize a junior college board to establish a family education center in conjunction with other institutions of higher education and private entities. It would require family education centers to establish a curriculum in consultation with DFPS and to provide comprehensive activities and training for residents. It would also authorize member institutions and entities to solicit, accept, and administer gifts, grants, and donations for use by family education centers. SECTION 2.02 would require DFPS to assist member institutions and entities to develop a comprehensive curriculum for family education centers. It would require the agency to evaluate the feasibility of requiring certain families who are the subject of a report of child abuse or neglect to participate in family education center activities as an alternative to removing the child. It would also require the agency to submit a report with findings and recommendations on whether family education centers should be established statewide. The report would be due by December 1, 2010, and the section would expire on September 1, 2011.
The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2009.
DFPS indicates that it would cost $269,500 in fiscal year 2010, and $220,000 in fiscal year 2011, to develop and implement the statewide public awareness and outreach campaign about the Children's Bill of Rights. This estimate is based on the agency's experience with the Why Not Me Campaign which included TV, radio, and billboard advertisements as well as printed materials. The method of financing would be General Revenue Funds (84 percent) and federal matching funds (16 percent). It is assumed that gifts, grants, and donations associated with this activity would be insignificant. DSHS indicates that it would cost $425,000 per fiscal year to issue the written proclamation of the Children's Bill of Rights to parents. This estimate is based on a cost of $1.00 per birth per year. It is assumed that the proclamation program would start on January 1, 2010, following the adoption of rules by the Executive Commissioner of Health and Human Services.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board indicates that the fiscal impact on insitutions that elect to participate as a family education center member would vary depending, in part, on whether the institution is already engaged in activities consistent with the mission of the proposed center. It is assumed that gifts, grants, and donations to member institutions and entities for use by the centers would be insignificant. DFPS indicates that it would cost $366,000 in fiscal year 2010 to develop a 40-hour family education center curriculum. The curriculum would be based on a blended learning model that includes 20 hours of instructor-led training and 20 hours of computer-based training. It is assumed that the cost to study the feasibility of using family education centers as an alternative to removing a child involved in an abuse or neglect investigation would be $75,000 in fiscal year 2010 and $25,000 in fiscal year 2011. The method of financing would include General Revenue Funds (84 percent) and federal matching funds (16 percent).
| Source Agencies: | 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, PP, NM
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