Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB54 by Martinez, "Mando" (Relating to the transportation of certain mental health patients.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would prioritize the method of transportation to an appropriate mental health facility for a person apprehended in a county located on the Texas-Mexico border that has a population of 500,000 or more and is adjacent to two or more counties each of which has a population of 50,000 or more.
According to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Hidalgo County is the only county in Texas that would qualify under the criteria presented in the bill. It is assumed that the bill would only apply to persons apprehended in Hidalgo County. It is further assumed that persons apprehended in Hidalgo County would be admitted to either Rio Grande State Center (RGSC) or San Antonio State Hospital (SASH); and that RGSC will be responsible for providing transportation for patients admitted to RGSC and SASH from Hidalgo County. In 2010, there were 108 admissions to these two state mental hospitals from Hidalgo County and of the 108 admissions, 32 were to RGSC and 76 were to SASH and it is assumed that the number of admissions will remain relatively constant in the following years.
DSHS reported there would be some costs to implement the provisions of the bill. This analysis anticipates any additional work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current resources.
Local Government Impact
Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House/Senate as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.