LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 28, 2009

TO:	Honorable Tommy Merritt, Chair, House Committee on Public Safety
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1093 by Pickett (Relating to oversight of regional poison control centers.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Health and Safety Code, Chapters 771 and 777, to transfer the responsibilities for oversight and administration of the regional poison control center operations from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to the Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) on May 1, 2010. 

Under current law, a portion of the CSEC appropriations - approximately $6.8 million each fiscal year - funds interagency contracts with the DSHS, which in turn provides grants to each of the 6 regional poison control centers for the operation of the centers.  The DSHS retains a small portion of the interagency contract (approximately $159,000 each fiscal year) for the administration of the program.

The bill would result in the termination of the current interagency between the CSEC and the DSHS. The CSEC would retain the funds to directly administer and disburse grants to the regional poison control centers. The transfer of administrative functions from the DSHS to the CSEC would not require additional funding. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

477 Commission on State Emergency Communications, 537 State Health Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JOB, ESi, MS, LCO