Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB233 by Rodriguez (Relating to the creation of an advisory committee to establish and recommend qualifications for certain health care translators and interpreters.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish an advisory committee on qualifications for health care translators and interpreters who serve persons with limited English proficiency or who are deaf or hard of hearing. The committee would have not fewer than ten members. While they would not be reimbursed for their services, the members' business-related travel would be reimbursed under the provisions of the bill (to the extent authorized by the General Appropriations Act). HHSC states that the cost of reimbursement could be absorbed within existing resources. The agency notes, however, that implementation of any future recommendations of the committee may have a cost that is not included in this fiscal note.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.