LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 86TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 18, 2019

TO:
Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
 
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director     Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director
Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB982 by Kolkhorst (Relating to awareness of and access to health care service programs available during a disaster or emergency.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB982, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,647,314) 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 ($740,219)
2021 ($907,095)
2022 ($907,095)
2023 ($907,095)
2024 ($907,095)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
General Revenue Fund
1
2020 ($740,219)
2021 ($907,095)
2022 ($907,095)
2023 ($907,095)
2024 ($907,095)



Fiscal Year Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020 8.0
2021 8.0
2022 8.0
2023 8.0
2024 8.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code and the Health and Safety Code relating to awareness of and access to health care services programs available during a disaster or emergency.
 
The bill would require the Texas Division of Emergency Management (division) to consult with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and local governmental entities with established emergency management plans to develop a plan to increase the capabilities of local emergency shelters for specialty care populations during a disaster.
 
The bill would also require DSHS to consult with the division to increase awareness and to encourage local government emergency response teams to utilize services provided by available local response teams, such as the Medical Reserve Corps, to support shelter operations.
 
The bill would also require DSHS to develop a plan to create and manage state-controlled volunteer mobile medical units in each public health region to assist counties that lack access to a volunteer support.
 
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.

Methodology

Under the provisions of the bill, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) would be required to increase involvement in the majority of general population sheltering operations, increase public awareness of volunteer networks, and create and manage a volunteer mobile medical unit in each of eight public health regions.  DSHS would also consult with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and local governmental entities.
 
Currently, DSHS provides medical support to special populations. DSHS does not currently manage state-controlled volunteer medical units in each public health region. DSHS estimates that additional resources would be needed to support statewide initiatives as described in the bill.
 
The agency indicated they would need an additional 8.0 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) to develop a plan to create and manage the mobile medical units in each of the eight public health regions.  The FTEs would also establish regional workgroups to determine and develop assessment volunteers across jurisdictions, establish deployment procedures for mobile medical units and current emergency medical task force, and coordinate planning of a statewide volunteer network as needed.
 
Based on the Legislative Budget Board's analysis of information provided by DSHS, the estimated cost for 8.0 FTEs would be $450,143 in fiscal year 2020 and $600,190 in each subsequent fiscal year. An additional $153,696 in other operating expenses, including rent, travel, and supplies would be needed in fiscal year 2020 and $745,166 in each subsequent fiscal year for this purpose.
 
The estimated total to comply with the provisions of the bill would be $740,219 in fiscal year
2020 and $907,095 in each subsequent fiscal year.

Technology

Technology costs are estimated to be $33,072 in the first year for software equipment and Data Center Services (DCS) and $33,032 in each subsequent year for software maintenance and DCS.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to counties is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 537 State Health Services, Department of
LBB Staff:
WP, AKi, EP, AMa, AF, SMi