LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 9, 2009

TO:	Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1671 by Crownover (Relating to mutual aid agreements for newborn screening laboratory services.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill allows for mutual aid agreements to provide newborn screening laboratory services to another state and to receive newborn screening laboratory services from another state in the event of service interruptions, including those caused by a disaster.  The bill also requires that the agreements address confidentiality of the identity of the newborn child and the child’s family and ensure return of specimens and related records back to the state that received the newborn screening services.  It is assumed that any cost associated with developing the mutual aid agreements or any other functions associated with this legislation can be absorbed within existing agency resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

537 State Health Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, JF, LR