LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 86TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 26, 2019

TO:
Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
 
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director     Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director
Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB4147 by Bell, Cecil (Relating to required mental health awareness training for first responders.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop or adopt a curriculum for first responder mental health awareness training in collaboration with agencies that license or certify first responders. The bill would also require each state agency that licenses or certifies first responders to use the mental health awareness training curriculum developed or adopted by HHSC.

The bill would require the Commission on Law Enforcement to require an officer to complete the mental health awareness training curriculum developed or adopted by HHSC. The agency indicates that these activities could be absorbed within the agency's appropriations.

According to HHSC, the Disaster Behavioral Health Services program would be required to provide information regarding the impact of chronic trauma on first responder duties and strategies for first responders to attain wellness and resiliency. HHSC staff would be required to conduct research, consult with subject matter experts to identify best practices, and develop appropriate training materials, which could require travel.

LBB analysis of HHSC and other impacted state agencies indicates that the provisions of the bill could be accomplished with existing resources.

Local Government Impact

According to the Commission on Fire Protection, the bill could impact local governments that are required to conduct the training requirements of the bill. This impact cannot be determined at this time.

According to the Texas Association of Counties, there may be a significant fiscal impact on counties that annually lose the services of each first responder for an extra day and have to cover those missed shifts by either hiring additional staff or bringing in current staff at overtime rates.


Source Agencies:
407 Commission on Law Enforcement, 401 Military Department, 405 Department of Public Safety, 411 Commission on Fire Protection, 529 Health and Human Services Commission
LBB Staff:
WP, AKi, JQ, MNa, AF, BH