LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 21, 2009

TO:	Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB499 by Lucio (Relating to birth records of adopted children.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB499, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: an impact of $0 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	$0
2011	$0
2012	$0
2013	$0
2014	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue Gain from Vital Statistics Account 19	Probable (Cost) from Vital Statistics Account 19
2010	$49,500	($49,500)
2011	$75,000	($75,000)
2012	$75,000	($75,000)
2013	$75,000	($75,000)
2014	$75,000	($75,000)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on request to provide a noncertified copy of an adopted person’s original birth certificate or a noncertified copy of a deceased adopted person’s original birth certificate, under certain circumstances.  The department can set and charge a reasonable fee for the birth certificate.  

 

The bill would require DSHS to create a Contact Preference Form and an Updated Medical History form that the birth parents would be asked to complete during the adoption process.

Methodology

The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) must train employees on the use of the form and modify policy and procedures to incorporate the new requirements. DFPS expects that any cost of implementing the bill can be absorbed within existing resources.   

 

DSHS would update the Texas Electronic Registration System with the two new forms. It is expected that this cost can be absorbed within existing resources.

 

DSHS estimates that there will be 1,500 record requests each year at $50 per request.  In fiscal year 2010 it is estimated that there will be a revenue gain of $49,500 and $75,000 in fiscal year 2011 and beyond. It is expected that this revenue would be available to offset some of the operating cost associated with updating the system.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to the court having jurisdiction is anticipated as a result of the requirement for a petition of adoption to include a copy of the birth parent's contact preference form or as a result of authority to waive the filing requirement.

Source Agencies:

530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, BM, MN, MB, DB