Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB781 by Burkett (Relating to caregiver screening and training by substitute care providers for children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB781, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($535,752) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.
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
2016
($267,876)
2017
($267,876)
2018
($267,876)
2019
($267,876)
2020
($267,876)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2015
2016
($267,876)
3.7
2017
($267,876)
3.7
2018
($267,876)
3.7
2019
($267,876)
3.7
2020
($267,876)
3.7
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Chapter 264 of the Family Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to study various screening, assessment and pre-service training requirements used by substitute care providers. Additionally, the bill would require DFPS and each substitute care provider to increase pre-service training for potential caregivers.
Methodology
Based on analysis provided by DFPS, the Department would need to provide 4,028 additional hours of training. Each worker has 130 hours available each month to provide training. It is assumed that an additional 2.6 Foster/Adopt staff would be needed to accommodate the increase in the training requirement (4,028 increase in hours/130 available hours in a month/12 months in a year =2.6 FTEs). It is assumed the agency would need $205,151 in each fiscal year to pay for salaries and benefits. All other operating expenses, including costs for 0.1 FTE at HHSC for regional support, is estimated to be $62,725 each fiscal year.
The bill may increase costs to Child Placing Agencies, including the Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCC) who are the lead agencies for Foster Care Redesign. DFPS estimates that only 33% of providers are currently meeting the pre-service training requirement set forth by the bill. Additional costs to the remaining providers are not reflected here.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.