LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 28, 2021

TO:	Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1237 by White (Relating to adverse disproportionalities within the child protective services system.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1237, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted : a negative impact of ($856,441) 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.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2022	($589,720)
2023	($266,721)
2024	($266,721)
2025	($266,721)
2026	($266,721)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1	Probable Savings/(Cost) from GR Match For Medicaid 758	Probable Savings/(Cost) from Federal Funds 555	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2021
2022	($589,400)	($320)	($30,701)	3.0
2023	($266,441)	($280)	($13,743)	3.0
2024	($266,441)	($280)	($13,743)	3.0
2025	($266,441)	($280)	($13,743)	3.0
2026	($266,441)	($280)	($13,743)	3.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Human Resources Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) commissioner to analyze the adverse disproportionate involvement of children who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups in each stage of service, including investigations. If the commissioner identifies disproportionality, the commissioner must establish a team to address the disproportionality.

The bill would require DFPS to develop an evidence-based approach, including a strategic plan, to address disproportionality, including to identify resources for addressing and eliminating or reducing disproportionality, and assist the commissioner in obtaining those resources, including requesting funding from the legislature if needed.

Methodology

This analysis assumes the creation of a new team to address disproportionality. The team would be responsible for research, identification, implementation and evaluation of an evidence-based approach. This would result in a need of 1.0 Director II Full­-time Equivalent (FTE) to be responsible for overseeing the work and reporting to ensure Commissioner directives and tasks are completed, and 2.0 Program Specialist VII FTEs to support the team with research into evidence-based models, team meetings, development, and other requirements of the team as needed.

In addition, this analysis assumes DFPS would need a one-time cost of $300,000 to purchase an evidence-based approach or contract for development/evaluation of an evidence-based approach in fiscal year 2022.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

530 Family & Protective Services

LBB Staff:

JMc, AKI, JLI, AN