Honorable Charles Schwertner, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1889 by Zaffirini (Relating to the disclosure and use of certain information in the Department of Family and Protective Services central registry of child abuse or neglect cases and the report of certain information regarding those cases to the legislature.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1889, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,152,607) 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
($1,069,652)
2017
($82,955)
2018
($82,955)
2019
($82,955)
2020
($82,955)
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
($1,069,652)
($215,954)
1.0
2017
($82,955)
($9,070)
1.0
2018
($82,955)
($9,070)
1.0
2019
($82,955)
($9,070)
1.0
2020
($82,955)
($9,070)
1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Family Code to prohibit the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) from disclosing the name of a person who is included in the central registry due to a finding of abuse or neglect that was based solely on the fact that the person relinquished custody of a child who suffers from a severe emotional disturbance in order to obtain mental health services for the child. The bill would prohibit DFPS from providing that information to another state or federal agency as part of an agreement to exchange reports of child abuse and neglect information. DFPS would be required to report by December 31st of each year on the number of persons whom the department offered the option of joint managing conservatorship of the child and the number of persons with whom the department shares joint managing conservatorship of a child.
Methodology
In order to track the number of times a family was offered joint managing conservatorship of a child as well as the number of cases in which DFPS has joint managing conservatorship of a child, costs of $1,186,560 in fiscal year 2016 are estimated for changes to the agency's IMPACT system (the agency's casework system). DFPS also estimated that 1.0 FTE would be needed to implement the provisions of the bill at a cost of $99,047 in fiscal year 2016 and $92,025 in fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year after. Those costs include salaries, benefits, and other operating costs. The total costs would be $1,285,607 in fiscal year 2016 and $92,025 in fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year after.
Technology
Costs of $1.2 million in FY2016 is estimated for IMPACT changes in order to track the number of times a family was offered joint managing conservatorship of a child as well as the number of cases in which DFPS has joint managing conservatorship of a child.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.