LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 26, 2009

TO:
Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB703 by Nelson (Relating to the provision of a certified copy of a birth certificate for certain minors receiving services from the Department of Family and Protective Services. ), As Passed 2nd House



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB703, As Passed 2nd House: a positive impact of $112,140 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.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010 $56,070
2011 $56,070
2012 $56,070
2013 $56,070
2014 $56,070




Fiscal Year Probable Savings from
General Revenue Fund
1 		Probable Savings/(Cost) from
Vital Statistics Account
19 		Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
Vital Statistics Account
19 		Probable Revenue Gain from
Vital Statistics Account
19
2010 $56,070 ($78,685) ($74,100) $115,865
2011 $56,070 ($98,297) ($74,100) $122,423
2012 $56,070 ($98,529) ($74,100) $122,423
2013 $56,070 ($98,769) ($74,100) $122,423
2014 $56,070 ($99,017) ($74,100) $122,423

Fiscal Year Probable Savings from
Federal Funds
555 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009
2010 $18,030 1.5
2011 $18,030 2.0
2012 $18,030 2.0
2013 $18,030 2.0
2014 $18,030 2.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill amends the terms of a memorandum of understanding between the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to prohibit DSHS from collecting fees from DFPS for certified copies of birth certificates and birth verifications for children in the managing conservatorship of DFPS if parental rights have been terminated and the child is eligible for adoption.  

The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to notify an individual who
submitted an amendment to a birth, death or fetal death certificate within 30 business days of the date
received whether the amendment has been accepted for filing.

Methodology

DSHS currently charges DFPS $13.50 to issue a birth certificate and $0.33 per birth verification. In fiscal year 2008 DFPS requested 5,000 birth certificates and 20,000 birth verifications for children in the managing conservatorship of DFPS that had parental rights terminated and were eligible for adoption. DSHS assumes that DFPS will make the same number of requests in fiscal year 2010 and beyond. No longer charging DFPS for these requests will result in an estimated loss of revenue to DSHS of $74,100 from the Vital Statistics Account and a savings to DFPS of $56,070 in General Revenue and $18,030 in Federal Funds in each fiscal year.

DSHS estimates that raising the amendment fee by $7.42 in fiscal year 2010 and by $7.84 in fiscal
year 2011 would cover any cost associated with processing the amendments. It is estimated DSHS will receive 15,615 requests for amendments each fiscal year. DSHS estimates a revenue gain of
approximately $115,865 in fiscal year 2010 and $122,423 in fiscal year 2011 and beyond.                    
It is assumed that 1.5 full-time equivalents (FTEs) would be needed in fiscal year 2010 and 2.0 FTEs
would be needed in fiscal year 2011 and beyond to process the notifications. The cost associated with
hiring the FTEs is estimated to be $78,685 in fiscal year 2010 and approximately $98,297 in fiscal
year 2011 and beyond; these costs include salary, benefits, and other associated expenditures. It is
assumed that the revenue gain to the Vital Statistics Account would be expended to cover the costs.


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, BM, MB, LR, NM