Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1575 by Kolkhorst (Relating to assessment and oversight of children placed by the Department of Family and Protective Services in a residential treatment center.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1575, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($2,181,084) 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
($1,261,685)
2023
($919,399)
2024
($919,399)
2025
($919,399)
2026
($919,399)
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
($1,247,820)
($13,865)
($124,782)
15.6
2023
($909,296)
($10,103)
($90,930)
15.0
2024
($909,296)
($10,103)
($90,930)
15.0
2025
($909,296)
($10,103)
($90,930)
15.0
2026
($909,296)
($10,103)
($90,930)
15.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Family Code to require a court to review the placement of children in Residential Treatment Center (RTC) and require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to submit evidence at each status review and each permanency hearing.
In addition, the bill would require DFPS to perform certain assessments no later than 30 days following a children's placement in a RTC. DFPS would be required to assemble a family and permanency team that consists of certain individuals as well as document in a child's permanency plan various information including evidence of assessments and permanency team meetings, and placement preferences.
Methodology
This analysis assumes 3.0 Placement Specialist V Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) in each fiscal year to submit additional documentation to the Administration of Children and Families for any child placed in a RTC who is at least 13 years of age and has been in an RTC for more than 12.0 consecutive months or 18.0 consecutive months for a child younger than 13.0 years of age. It is assumed that these FTEs would also facilitate the work to review and track assessments, provide quality assurance, coordinate with regional staff and provide other supports to assure quality assessments to be used by DFPS, the courts, and the RTC.
This analysis also assumes to assemble and facilitate a permanency team for each child placed in an RTC, DFPS would require 1.0 CPS Specialist II FTE in each of the 12.0 regions in each fiscal year to assist the approximately 3,000 children who would require this team.
It is assumed that any additional costs to DFPS associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
Based on analysis of the Office of Court Administration, it is assumed that the cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
Technology
This analysis assumes the need of 0.6 System Analyst V FTE and a cost of $0.1 million in fiscal year 2022 to perform 1,079 hours of work to modify the Information Management Protecting Adults and Children in Texas (IMPACT) system. This modification would include page updates for the permanency plan and child plan of services, new section on evidence provided to courts and adding new data elements.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Admin, 530 Family & Protective Services