Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB39 by Wu (Relating to the child protective service functions of the Department of Family and Protective Services.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB39, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($2,194,746) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
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
2018
($1,165,781)
2019
($1,028,965)
2020
($1,028,965)
2021
($1,028,965)
2022
($1,028,965)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Federal Funds 555
Probable Savings/(Cost) from GR Match For Medicaid 758
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2017
2018
($1,153,499)
($183,213)
($12,282)
20.0
2019
($1,018,162)
($164,695)
($10,803)
20.0
2020
($1,018,162)
($164,695)
($10,803)
20.0
2021
($1,018,162)
($164,695)
($10,803)
20.0
2022
($1,018,162)
($164,695)
($10,803)
20.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Family Code, Government Code, Human Resources Code, and Tax Code relating to the child protective services functions of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
The bill would require DFPS to ensure any child entering conservatorship of the state receives a medical examination within three to seven business days.
The bill would require the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to appoint an employee to serve as a liaison to DFPS regional offices to assist with locating absent parents of children in the managing conservatorship of the state.
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to coordinate and oversee the development and implementation of the joint memorandum of understanding established to promote coordination of certain multiagency services.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Methodology
According to DFPS, the agency would require additional resources to ensure that a child taken into custody by the agency would receive a medical screening within three to seven days. Based on experiences from other states that have implemented similar provisions, the agency estimates that half of new removals would need transportation to the required medical examination by DFPS or the Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC). According to the DFPS projected removals and the DFPS assumption that each medical examination would require six hours of transportation services, the agency would require 19.0 additional Full-time Equivalent (FTE) case aide positions to cover children in the legacy system. The additional FTEs would cost of approximately $64,650 per FTE in All Funds in fiscal year 2018 and approximately $57,000 per FTE in All Funds each subsequent fiscal year.
In addition, HHSC estimates that the agency would require 1.0 additional Program Specialist VI FTE to assist in the oversight and development of the joint memorandum of understanding, resulting in a cost of $120,785 in All Funds fiscal year 2018 for salary and benefits, and $113,323 in All Funds in each subsequent fiscal year.
Based on information provided by DFPS, HHSC, OAG, and the Office of Court Administration, it is assumed that the remaining duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Technology
Technology costs are estimated to be $32,000 in the 2018-19 biennium for one-time implementation costs. This includes $1,600 per additional FTE for computer and laptop accessories.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, Denton County reported the fiscal impact is not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 783 University of Houston System Administration