Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1425 by Guerra (Relating to the duration of laboratory support for testing of vector-borne infectious diseases in border counties.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1425, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,021,335) 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
($913,488)
2021
($1,107,847)
2022
($1,107,847)
2023
($1,107,847)
2024
($1,107,847)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($913,488)
7.0
2021
($1,107,847)
7.0
2022
($1,107,847)
7.0
2023
($1,107,847)
7.0
2024
($1,107,847)
7.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services to provide year-round laboratory support for arboviral testing of vector-borne infectious diseases in counties located along the international border with Mexico.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Methodology
Under the provisions of the bill, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) would provide year-round testing for the detection of arboviral diseases in humans and mosquitos for border counties.
Currently, DSHS provides support for arboviral testing of vector-borne infectious diseases for seven months of the year, from May to November, for four border counties. The agency assumes expansion of support and testing for five additional months and to 32 counties.
To implement the provision of the bill, the agency indicated they would need additional full-time equivalents (FTEs), including 2.0 Molecular Biologist III to perform testing of mosquito pools and human samples for detection of disease; 1.0 Microbiologist I to assess specimen for proper shipping and receipt according to specimen submission criteria; 1.0 Administrative Assistant III to maintain specimen databases; and 3.0 Epidemiologist II to educate counties about trapping, specimen collection, and analyze testing results. The cost for 7.0 FTEs would be $394,892 in fiscal year 2020 and $526,522 in each subsequent fiscal year. An additional $126,483 in other operating expenses, including rent, travel, and supplies that would be needed in fiscal year 2020 and $122,731 in each subsequent fiscal year for this purpose.
DSHS indicated that additional costs for chemicals and supplies to perform testing would be $99,484 for each fiscal year.
The estimated total to comply with the provisions of the bill would be $913,488 in fiscal year 2020 and $1,107,847 in each subsequent fiscal year.
Technology
Technology costs are estimated to be $28,861 in the first year for software equipment and Data Center Services (DCS) and $28,826 in each subsequent year for software maintenance and DCS.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, no fiscal implication to counties is anticipated.