LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
February 18, 2013

TO:
Honorable Richard Peņa Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB304 by Walle (Relating to employee caseload standards for child and adult protective services and child-care licensing services and call processing standards for certain of those services.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB304, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($242,791,581) through the biennium ending August 31, 2015.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2014 ($88,858,222)
2015 ($153,933,359)
2016 ($235,264,338)
2017 ($225,165,471)
2018 ($225,165,471)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
General Revenue Fund
1 		Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GR Match For Medicaid
758 		Probable Savings/(Cost) from
Federal Funds
555 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2013
2014 ($87,913,331) ($944,891) ($10,584,615) 1,402.2
2015 ($152,263,542) ($1,669,817) ($19,088,134) 2,589.4
2016 ($233,003,533) ($2,260,805) ($30,664,301) 4,203.4
2017 ($222,990,502) ($2,174,969) ($29,258,770) 4,203.4
2018 ($222,990,502) ($2,174,969) ($29,258,770) 4,203.4

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 531 of the Government Code, as it relates to caseload standards, and Chapter 40 of the Human Resources Code, as it relates to staffing and workload plans for Child Protective Services and to hold times for Statewide Intake. The bill directs the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to work toward ensuring that the average caseload for specific workers does not exceed a prescribed target. The bill also directs DFPS to work toward a reduction in call wait times and a reduction in the call abandonment rate. DFPS would be required to submit a report to the standing committees having primary jurisdiction over DFPS regarding the department's progress in achieving the improvements. 

Methodology

To achieve the targets listed in the bill, DFPS has indicated they will require an increase in FTEs of 1,360.5 in fiscal year 2014, an increase of 2,509.4 in fiscal year 2015, and 4,123.4 in fiscal years 2016-2018 above fiscal year 2013. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) would require an increase of 41.7 FTEs in fiscal year 2014 and 80.0 FTEs in fiscal years 2015-2018 to support DFPS. The increased FTEs at DFPS  were derived using HHSC forecasts and estimated the increase in caseworkers that would be needed to achieve the targets.  These numbers were then used to derive the appropriate number of supervisors and additional direct support positions that would be needed in order to maintain staff ratios. Due to the large increase in the FTE cap, any expected hiring would be phased in over the biennium, which reduces the cost of implementation of the bill for fiscal years 2014-2015. Full costs are assumed beginning in fiscal year 2016. 

All costs associated with implementation of the bill are associated with the increase in FTEs. The All Funds expenditures total $99.4 million in fiscal year 2014, $173.0 million in fiscal year 2015, $265.9 million in fiscal year 2016, and $254.4 million in fiscal years 2017-2018. These totals include salary costs ($47.2 million in fiscal year 2014, $87.3 million in fiscal year 2015, and $141.3 million in fiscal years 2016-2018), benefits ($14.0 million in fiscal year 2014, $26.0 million in fiscal year 2015, and $42.0 million in fiscal years 2016-2018), and other operating expenses ($36.1 million in fiscal year 2014, $55.8 million in fiscal year 2015, $78.6 million in fiscal year 2016 and $67.1 million in fiscal years 2017-2018). The costs associated with the increased FTEs at HHSC are $2.0 million in fiscal year 2014 and $3.9 million in fiscal years 2015-2018. 


Technology

Technology costs included above total $2,028,801 for fiscal year 2014 and $3,862,739 for fiscal years 2015-2018 for computers and software.

Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
530 Family and Protective Services, Department of
LBB Staff:
UP, CL, MB, NB, VJC