LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 26, 2009

TO:	Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1627 by Wentworth (Relating to the collection of biometric identifiers of certain persons receiving inpatient mental health services.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend sections of the Government Code and Health and Safety Code relating to the collection of biometric identifiers of persons who are receiving inpatient mental health services.  The Department of Public Safety (DPS) would be required to collect fingerprints and DNA samples from persons committed to a mental health facility and store the data in the Department's DNA database.  DPS indicates that the bill would increase the number of samples processed by the Crime Laboratory each year. The bill takes effect September 1, 2009. 

This analysis assumes that the fiscal and operational impact associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current DPS and Department of State Health Services funding and resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety, 537 State Health Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, GG, LG, MWU