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:
SB1404 by Powell (Relating to an electronic portal for disclosures and consent regarding certain newborn screening information.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1404, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($3,823,844) 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
($2,677,778)
2021
($1,146,066)
2022
($1,146,066)
2023
($1,146,066)
2024
($1,146,066)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($2,677,778)
2.0
2021
($1,146,066)
2.0
2022
($1,146,066)
2.0
2023
($1,146,066)
2.0
2024
($1,146,066)
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to an electronic portal for disclosures and consent regarding certain newborn screening information.
The bill would authorize birthing facilities or other entities that collect specimens for newborn screening to maintain an electronic portal through which a parent, managing conservator, or guardian may access and confirm receipt of the disclosure statement, request an exemption from newborn screening testing, and provide electronic consent to disclosure of newborn screening results.
The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to establish a mechanism for electronic parental consent prior to releasing individual identifying information for a newborn or infant through the hearing screening management information system.
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a mechanism for electronic consent of a parent or guardian before any individually identifying information is provided to DSHS as related to screening newborns for hearing.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Methodology
DSHS indicates that the bill would require the agency to procure a new electronic portal to capture electronic parental consent and acknowledgement, at a cost of $2,420,500 in fiscal year 2020 and $765,433 in subsequent fiscal years. DSHS assumes that the new portal system would require 2.0 FTEs to provide technical support, at a cost of $219,115 in fiscal year 2020 and $262,259 in subsequent fiscal years.
DSHS estimates that the costs of contract procurement, agency support, and other expenses would be $38,163 in fiscal year 2020 and $118,374 in subsequent fiscal years.
The estimated cost to comply with the provisions of the bill is $2,677,778 in General Revenue in fiscal year 2020, and $1,146,066 in subsequent fiscal years.
Technology
Technology costs for the new electronic portal, maintenance and support of the portal, servers, storage, and FTE-related expenses are estimated to be $2,576,224 in fiscal year 2020 and $921,157 in subsequent fiscal years.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of