Honorable Stephanie Klick, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB728 by Lucio III (Relating to public health laboratory testing capabilities in certain counties.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB728, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($879,143) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The Department of State Health Services is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the department may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2022
($529,115)
2023
($350,028)
2024
($359,209)
2025
($368,666)
2026
($378,406)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2021
2022
($529,115)
7.3
2023
($350,028)
7.3
2024
($359,209)
7.3
2025
($368,666)
7.3
2026
($378,406)
7.3
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to prepare and submit a report to the legislature on public laboratories in counties that are adjacent to an international border by September 1, 2022. The bill would require DSHS to collaborate with local health departments and public and private laboratories to collect information and develop recommendations for the report.
The bill would require DSHS, using available resources as determined by DSHS, to enter into local agreements with institutions of higher education and public and private testing laboratories to increase the availability of public health laboratory services for local health departments.
The bill would require DSHS, using available resources as determined by DSHS, to provide year-round laboratory support access for vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in certain border counties that are most at risk for year-round outbreaks.
Methodology
DSHS assumes they would use existing staff and collaborations with local health departments to gather information required for the report.
The analysis assumes that DSHS would provide funding for local agreements with institutions of higher education and public and private testing laboratories to increase the availability of public health laboratory services for local health departments. According to the University of Texas System, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (UTRGV SOM) would need to set up a fully functional vector-born laboratory for non-human samples through an agreement with DSHS. This would require 7.3 additional full-time equivalents (FTEs) including five new staff positions, two new student positions, and summer salary for one faculty member, and additional funding for travel and equipment.
The analysis assumes that DSHS would support access to year-round laboratory testing for vector-borne and zoonotic diseases through the local agreement with UTRGV.
The estimated total to comply with the provisions of the bill would be $529,115 in fiscal year 2022; $350,028 in fiscal year 2023; $359,209 in fiscal year 2024; $368,666 in fiscal year 2025; and $378,406 in fiscal year 2026.
Local Government Impact
Cameron County does not anticipate a fiscal impact to the county.
Source Agencies:
537 State Health Services, 710 Texas A&M Univ System Admin, 720 UT Sys Admin, 768 Texas Tech Univ Sys Admin, 769 UNT System Administration, 783 Univ of Houston Sys Admin