Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2837 by King, Susan (Relating to authorization agreements between a parent and a relative or other person for the care and custody of the parent's child.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2837, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($812,601) 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
($426,201)
2017
($386,400)
2018
($386,400)
2019
($386,400)
2020
($386,400)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Federal Funds 555
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2015
2016
($426,201)
($25,928)
6.1
2017
($386,400)
($23,002)
6.1
2018
($386,400)
($23,002)
6.1
2019
($386,400)
($23,002)
6.1
2020
($386,400)
($23,002)
6.1
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Family Code to allow a parent to enter into an authorization agreement with a person who is not a relative of the parent's child as long as the authorization agreement is entered into with the assistance of a qualified nonprofit organization. For each request received for an authorization agreement, the qualified nonprofit organization is required to: 1) complete a criminal history background check and child abuse and neglect background check on each adult in the person's household; 2) ensure that each person providing care for a child under an authorization agreement is trained in the rights, duties, and limitations regarding providing care for a child under an authorization agreement; and 3) notify the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) of the request and verify that the department does not have an open investigation of child abuse or neglect involving the child or parent or is not otherwise providing services to the parent. If DFPS has an open investigation of abuse and neglect related to the child or is providing services to the parent, the department must approve the authorization agreement.
Methodology
Under the provisions of the bill, it is assumed that the qualified nonprofit organization will work with the Department of Public Safety and the FBI to obtain criminal history back checks and that the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) will assist with the central registry checks for child abuse and neglect. It is also assumed that DFPS will assist with determining if there is an open investigation of child abuse and neglect involving the child or parent.
Based on information provided by Safe Families, DFPS estimated that 5 FTEs would be needed for the open case verification and for the central registry check. One additional CPS FTE would be needed to provide approval or denial of the placement and 0.1 FTEs at the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for enterprise support. The total costs for these 6.1 FTEs would be $452,129 in fiscal year 2016, and $409,402 in fiscal year 2017 and each year after. Those costs include salaries, benefits, and other operating costs.
Technology
Technology cost of $5,245 is anticipated to implement the provisions of the bill. Those costs are included above.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.