Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB205 by Keough (Relating to procedures for ordering the required participation in services in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time due to the indeterminate impact that the provisions of the bill will have on the number of families required by the courts to participate in Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) family preservation purchased services.
The bill would amend the Family Code relating to procedures for ordering the required participating in services in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
The bill would require the courts to find, by a preponderance of evidence that abuse of neglect has occurred or is likely to occur, before ordering a family to participate in family preservation purchased services. The bill would require a judge to advise those involved in the suit of certain rights related to representation by an attorney.
While DFPS anticipates that the provisions of the bill could increase the number of families required to participate in the agency's family preservation purchased services, the actual number of impacted suits is indeterminate and total cost cannot be estimated at this time.
The Office of Court Administration indicates they could absorb the costs associated with implementing the bill within their current resources.
Local Government Impact
According to DFPS, there could be a fiscal impact to counties in which the order is sought with an increase in court appointed fees.
According to Nacogdoches County, the bill would have a significant fiscal impact on the Juvenile Probation Department by increasing the caseload.
According to Montgomery County, the fiscal impact to the County is not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of