Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2848 by Burkett (Relating to consultations with contracted physician networks and physician systems during certain investigations of child abuse and neglect.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2848, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($448,292) 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
($224,146)
2019
($224,146)
2020
($224,146)
2021
($224,146)
2022
($224,146)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Federal Funds 555
2018
($224,146)
($25,854)
2019
($224,146)
($25,854)
2020
($224,146)
($25,854)
2021
($224,146)
($25,854)
2022
($224,146)
($25,854)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Family Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Service (DFPS) to consult with contracted physician networks and physician systems during certain investigations of child abuse and neglect.
The bill would require any agreement between DFPS and the Forensic Assessment Center Network (FACN) or any Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System grantee to require the member physicians to provide assistance in abuse or neglect investigations conducted by DFPS to assist in identifying certain unique health conditions, and would require use of a peer review process to resolve cases in which the physicians disagree in the assessment of the causes of the child's injuries.
The bill would require DFPS to establish these agreements only if the department receives an appropriation for that purpose.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Methodology
According to DFPS, the agency could meet the provisions of the bill by expanding their existing contract with FACN. The agency estimates that, in each fiscal year, it would cost $200,000 in All Funds to provide the required specialty consultations, and $50,000 in All Funds to expand the peer review process.
The bill is estimated to result in a net cost of $250,000 in All Funds in each fiscal year.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.