TO: | Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives |
FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | HB451 by Allen (Relating to health benefit plan coverage for autism spectrum disorder.), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would amend the Insurance Code relating to health benefit plan coverage for autism spectrum disorder. Based on the analysis of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), it is assumed that there would be a one-time revenue gain of $16,000 in the General Revenue Dedicated Account Fund 36 in fiscal year 2010 because the bill would result in additional filings. Since General Revenue Dedicated Account Fund 36 is a self-leveling account, this analysis assumes all revenue generated would go toward fund balances or the maintenance tax would be set to recover a lower level of revenue the following year. It is also assumed that any costs realized by TDI from implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources. Based on the analysis by the Teachers Retirement System, the bill would not change the coverage offered by agency's health insurance plans and therefore would not have a fiscal impact on the agency.
The bill would amend the Human Resources Code as it relates to the creation of an autism program to provide services to children with autism spectrum disorder. The bill would require the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to provide services to children ages 3-8 that are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, to the extent that appropriated money is available. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission would also be required to develop the autism program required by the bill, not later than January 1, 2010. Since the provisions of the bill would codify the autism program already in existence at DARS, there would be no fiscal impact. Senate Bill 1, Eighty-first Legislature, Regular Session includes $3.3 million for fiscal year 2010 and $3.3 million for fiscal year 2011.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
Source Agencies: | 323 Teacher Retirement System, 454 Department of Insurance
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LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, CH, JW, CL, SJ, LR
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