Honorable Tryon D. Lewis, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2985 by Sanford (Relating to marriage education courses for certain couples filing for divorce on the grounds of insupportability.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2985, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($874,763) through the biennium ending August 31, 2015.
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
2014
($686,344)
2015
($188,419)
2016
($188,354)
2017
($188,354)
2018
($188,354)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2013
2014
($686,344)
2.0
2015
($188,419)
2.0
2016
($188,354)
2.0
2017
($188,354)
2.0
2018
($188,354)
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Family Code to require the completion of a crisis marriage education course in certain suits for the dissolution of marriage. The bill specifies the applicability of the course requirement and authorizes certain individuals and organizations to offer courses. The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to maintain an Internet website on which individuals and organizations offering courses may electronically register. HHSC would be required to notify county and district clerks of the website, and court clerks would be required to provide information to petitioners for divorce about the HHSC website. The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Methodology
The Office of Court Administration does not anticipate any significant fiscal impact to the court system resulting from the bill. HHSC reports that the bill will result in a fiscal impact of $686,344 in fiscal year 2014, $188,419 in fiscal year 2015 and $188,354 in each subsequent year. HHSC attributes these costs to necessary one-time fiscal year 2014 information technology hardware purchases and programming changes, and the hiring of two full-time-equivalent positions to implement the program. HHSC reports that one Program Specialist IV position and one Systems Analyst V position would be needed on an ongoing basis to maintain the requirements established by the bill.
Technology
HHSC assumed that the bill could be implemented by modification of their existing Twogether in Texas website relating to premarital education courses. HHSC reports the bill would require one-time fiscal year 2014 expenses for hardware purchases ($277,500) and programming changes ($206,500). The agency reports that minor technology costs would remain in subsequent years.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 529 Health and Human Services Commission