LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 10, 2009

TO:
Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB37 by Zaffirini (Relating to providing home- and community-based support services under the Medicaid program to persons who are deaf-blind with multiple disabilities.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill requires the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) to provide home- and community-based services under the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities waiver program to persons without regard to age, subject to the availability of funds. The Health and Human Services Commission is required to adopt rules related to implementation.
 
DADS indicates the bill would increase the pool of potentially eligible clients by fifty-five (55), but would not require that they be served. Medicaid waivers are currently not considered a federal entitlement and therefore the state has discretion as to how many individuals are served; however, if services were provided to these individuals, the agency estimates the biennial cost to be $5.6 million in All Funds with $2.4 million being General Revenue.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 538 Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of, 539 Aging and Disability Services, Department of
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, ML, LR