LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 21, 2009

TO:	Honorable Patrick M. Rose, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB69 by Nelson (Relating to child protective services and foster care.), As Engrossed

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB69, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($10,231,676) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010	($5,119,313)
2011	($5,112,363)
2012	($5,112,363)
2013	($5,112,363)
2014	($5,112,363)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1	Probable (Cost) from Federal Funds 555
2010	($5,119,313)	($880,687)
2011	($5,112,363)	($887,637)
2012	($5,112,363)	($887,637)
2013	($5,112,363)	($887,637)
2014	($5,112,363)	($887,637)

Fiscal Analysis

SECTION 2 would require the Department of Family and Protective Services to study and report on the feasibility of implementing a financial incentive program to encourage foster children to achieve and maintain their progress goals. SECTION 3 would require the agency to adopt policy providing for an exit interview of each foster parent who decides to leave the foster care system. SECTION 5 would require the agency to establish a foster care mentoring program. SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT 1 would require the Health and Human Services Commission to study and report on the feasibility of making changes to foster care assessment, placement, and reimbursement methodologies to improve outcomes for children. SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT 4 would establish a bill of rights for foster children, require that each foster child be informed of his or her rights, and require the agency to develop and implement a policy for handling reports that the rights are not being met. The agencies indicate that any costs to implement these provisions would be minimal and can be absorbed within available resources. SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT 3 would require the agency to spend up to $12 million from appropriations made for the 2010-11 biennium to ensure that 95 percent of children in conservatorship are visited by a caseworker at least once a month.

Methodology

SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT 3 would be a new cost of $6.0 million per fiscal year compared to the current biennium.  It is assumed that the cost would continue through fiscal year 2014, and the method of financing would include General Revenue Funds and federal matching funds. These funds would be used to help the agency move toward the attainment of federal targets established for monthly face-to-face visits between caseworkers and children in conservatorship.

Local Government Impact

The bill would require the department to provide information to a person enrolled in the Preparation for Adult Living Program about available community resources in the person's residing county, or a surrounding county, to assist the individual in obtaining necessary services, including employment, housing, and health care. The costs to local entities are not anticipated to be significant.

Source Agencies:

529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, NM, MB