Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1171 by Sanford (Relating to appointment of an attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem to represent an unborn child during a court proceeding authorizing a pregnant minor to consent to an abortion.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Family Code to allow a court to appoint an attorney ad litem to represent the unborn child in a case where a pregnant minor applies for judicial bypass of the parental notification and consent requirements for obtaining an abortion. The bill would require the Office of the Attorney General to develop and maintain a registry of persons willing to serve and have been asked to serve as an attorney ad litem of an unborn child. The bill would allow the court to issue an order requiring the state to pay for the cost of an attorney ad litem appointed for an unborn child.
The Office of the Attorney General indicates any cost to implement provisions of the bill would be minimal and can be absorbed within available resources.
It is assumed that any cost to the Health and Human Services Commission to implement provisions of the bill would be minimal and can be absorbed within available resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Admin, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 529 Hlth & Human Svcs Comm