Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB993 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 HB993, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($256,563,913) 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
($75,602,328)
2017
($180,961,585)
2018
($249,181,410)
2019
($272,363,349)
2020
($272,363,349)
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
2016
($63,357,634)
($12,244,694)
($8,180,094)
1,461.6
2017
($149,842,377)
($31,119,208)
($18,715,971)
3,088.5
2018
($204,867,264)
($44,314,146)
($26,186,434)
4,116.6
2019
($223,231,056)
($49,132,293)
($28,992,690)
4,379.7
2020
($222,744,063)
($49,619,286)
($28,992,690)
4,379.7
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 1,429.0 in fiscal year 2016, an increase of 3,019.2 in fiscal year 2017, an increase of 4,024.2 in fiscal year 2018 and 4,281.2 each fiscal year thereafter. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) would require an increase of 32.6 FTEs in fiscal year 2016 and 69.3 FTEs in fiscal years 2017 increasing to 98.5 FTEs beginning in fiscal year 2019 to support DFPS. The increased FTEs at DFPS were derived using HHSC forecasts of the estimated increase in caseworkers that would be needed to achieve the targets. These numbers were then used to calculate 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 2016-2017.
All costs associated with implementation of the bill are associated with the increase in FTEs. All Funds expenditures total $83.8 million in fiscal year 2016, $199.7 million in fiscal year 2017, $275.4 million in fiscal year 2018, and approximately $301 million each fiscal year thereafter. These totals include salary costs ($40.1 million in fiscal year 2016, $101.8 million in fiscal year 2017, and increasing to approximately $164.0 million by fiscal year 2019), benefits ($12.6 million in fiscal year 2016, $32.1 million in fiscal year 2017, and increasing to approximately $51.7 million by fiscal year 2019), and other operating expenses ($31.0 million in fiscal year 2016, $65.8 million in fiscal year 2017, and increasing to approximately $85.5 million by fiscal year 2019). The costs associated with the increased FTEs at HHSC are $1.1 million in fiscal year 2016 and increasing to $4.7 million by fiscal year 2020.
Technology
Technology costs included above total $1,510,139 for fiscal year 2016, $3,306,054 for fiscal year 2017, increasing to $4,861,265 per fiscal year by fiscal year 2019.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.