LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 23, 2013

TO:	Honorable Brandon Creighton, Chair, House Committee on Federalism & Fiscal Responsibility, Select
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HJR59 by Creighton (Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the rights of individuals to choose or decline to choose health insurance coverage.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.

The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $108,921. Agencies anticipate that any additional workload can be handled with existing staff and resources.

The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to Article I of the Texas Constitution that would be submitted to voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013. The constitutional amendment would specify that individuals in this state have the right to choose or decline to choose health insurance coverage without a penalty or sanction, or threat of penalty or sanction. It would also prohibit a state agency, public official, employee of the state, or political subdivision of the state from imposing or enforcing a penalty, sanction, or other punishment or discouragement on individuals who choose or decline to choose health insurance coverage.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 323 Teacher Retirement System, 327 Employees Retirement System, 454 Department of Insurance, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, MH, LI, RB, KKR