Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3559 by Swanson (Relating to reimbursement of foster parents and certain former foster children for expenses related to obtaining a driver's license and insurance.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3559, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($6,013,905) 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
($3,506,004)
2019
($2,507,901)
2020
($2,507,901)
2021
($2,507,901)
2022
($2,507,901)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2018
($3,506,004)
2019
($2,507,901)
2020
($2,507,901)
2021
($2,507,901)
2022
($2,507,901)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Family Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to reimburse a foster parent for any monetary expenses relating to obtaining a driver's license for a foster child, including related driver education and insurance costs.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Methodology
According to DFPS estimates, it would cost $75 per Parent-Taught drivers education certificate, $460 per commercial drivers education certificate, and an average of $800 per youth receiving annual liability insurance. DFPS assumes that, of the 3,863 foster care youth between the age of 14 and 20 eligible for the program, 30 percent would receive Parent-Taught drivers education and 70 percent would complete drivers education at a commercial school, for a total cost of $1.3 million in fiscal year 2018. In addition, DFPS assumes that, in order to account for population churn, the costs in subsequent years would equal 25 percent of the cost in year one, for a total annual cost of $0.3 million.
The analysis further assumes that the DFPS-estimated 2,719 youth between the ages of 16 and 20 would require liability insurance each fiscal year, for a total cost of $2.2 million.
There would not be a cost for the drivers license, as this fee is currently waived for any youth in paid foster care.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.