LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 3, 2011

TO:
Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
 
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1961 by Deshotel (Relating to provision of workers' compensation medical benefits to a peace officer or firefighter injured in the line of duty; providing an administrative violation.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 504 of the Labor Code to require a political subdivision that employs a peace officer or firefighter who incurs a compensable injury sustained in the line of duty to ensure that workers’ compensation medical benefits provided include all health care required to cure or relieve the effects, including payment of reasonable expenses incurred for necessary treatment, promotion of recovery, and enhancement of the ability to return to or retain employment. The bill also would be require the political subdivision to provide medical benefits no later than the 10th day after the date the notice of injury is submitted to the political subdivision.

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the provisions of the bill will not have a significant fiscal impact on the agency and any additional workload can be handled with existing staff and resources.


Local Government Impact

The fiscal impact to a political subdivision is not anticipated to be significant, but would vary depending on the type of workers’ compensation medical benefits that are currently provided and the number of police or firefighters that are injured in the line of duty in a locality.

According to the Johnson County Auditor's Office and Bexar County, no fiscal impact is anticipated.

The City of Austin’s Risk Management Division of the Human Resources Department reported there would be no fiscal impact to the City of Austin. The city also indicated the provisions of the bill are benefits that are currently entitled to all injured employees, including injured police or firefighter under Section 408.021 of the Texas Labor Code.


Source Agencies:
454 Department of Insurance
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, TP, CH