Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1424 by Guerra (Relating to a local agreement with the Department of State Health Services to improve laboratory capabilities in border counties.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1424, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($413,350) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
($118,100)
2021
($295,250)
2022
($295,250)
2023
($295,250)
2024
($295,250)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2020
($118,100)
2021
($295,250)
2022
($295,250)
2023
($295,250)
2024
($295,250)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services to enter into an agreement with an institution of higher education as defined in the Education Code, Section 61.003, located in Cameron or Hidalgo County, to increase the availability of laboratory services in counties adjacent to an international border.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Methodology
Under the provisions of the bill, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) would enter into an agreement with an institution of higher education located in Cameron or Hidalgo County to increase laboratory testing in border counties. DSHS assumes that testing would only be arboviral testing since the academic laboratories in Cameron or Hidalgo County lack certification to perform testing on humans.
Currently, there is a cooperative agreement between DSHS and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to provide surveillance and screening mosquito-borne diseases located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley for local jurisdictions, health departments, and vector control agencies effective until May 2021. Funding for the agreement and related activities is currently provided through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Centers of Excellence Vector Borne Diseases federal grant.
DSHS estimates that additional resources would be needed to support initiatives as described in the bill. The agency indicated they would need an additional $100,000 in each fiscal year for a contract to expand testing to other border counties not currently included in the cooperative agreement with UTRGV. DSHS also indicated that an additional $150,000 each fiscal year would be needed once the CDC grant expires in fiscal year 2021 to continue the mosquito surveillance activities currently provided.
The estimated total to comply with the provisions of the bill would be $118,100 in fiscal year 2020 and $295,250 in each subsequent fiscal year.
Technology
No significant fiscal implications to technology is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, no significant fiscal implication to border counties is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
537 State Health Services, Department of, 720 The University of Texas System Administration