LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 22, 2013

TO:	Honorable Brandon Creighton, Chair, House Committee on Federalism & Fiscal Responsibility, Select
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3709 by Bell (Relating to creation of the Health Freedom Act.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Insurance Code to prohibit a state or local entity, or employee, from imposing, collecting, or enforcing, a penalty or sanction against an individual for declining health insurance. The bill would require the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to take all necessary action to preserve the right of an individual to choose or decline health insurance; including seeking injunctive relief against legislation infringing on that right and defending the state and its employees from suit. The OAG indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house. Otherwise, the bill would take September 1, 2013.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, EP, JM