Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2114 by Perez (Relating to the authority of the Health and Human Services Commission and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to identify customers who may be eligible for bill payment assistance programs.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2114, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($120,000) 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
($60,000)
2019
($60,000)
2020
($60,000)
2021
($60,000)
2022
($60,000)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2018
($60,000)
2019
($60,000)
2020
($60,000)
2021
($60,000)
2022
($60,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Utilities Code relating to the authority of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to identify customers who may be eligible for bill payment assistance programs.
The bill permits HHSC to regularly provide PUC a list of individuals who receive assistance under the medical assistance program or the supplemental nutritional assistance program, and permits PUC to use the list to assist electric providers in providing bill payment assistance to individuals on the list.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receipt of a two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house; otherwise, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2017.
Methodology
The program specified in the bill currently exists under Section 39.903(e)(5) of the Utilities Code; however it is funded at PUC by the System Benefit Fund under Section 39.903 of the Utilities Code. The provisions under this section of code are set to expire at the end of fiscal year 2017.
According to PUC, the identification of eligible electric customers requires a vendor to match the list of individuals provided by HHSC with a list of electric customers. To continue implementing the process to match these individuals as specified in the provisions of the bill, PUC estimates a cost to General Revenue annually of $60,000.
Based on the analysis of the Health and Human Services Commission, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 529 Health and Human Services Commission