Honorable Gary VanDeaver, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB35 by Thompson (Relating to a peer support network for first responders.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB35, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($3,950,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
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
2026
($1,975,000)
2027
($1,975,000)
2028
($1,975,000)
2029
($1,975,000)
2030
($1,975,000)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2026
($1,975,000)
2027
($1,975,000)
2028
($1,975,000)
2029
($1,975,000)
2030
($1,975,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would transfer the peer support network for law enforcement officers program from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to Texas Southern University and reestablish it as a first responder peer support network. The program would establish regional support hubs and connect first responders with clinical resources at no cost to the first responders. The network would require Texas Southern University to develop: (1) peer-to-peer support; (2) training for peer service coordinators and peers that includes suicide prevention training; (3) technical assistance for program development, peer service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals and peers; and (4) identification, retention, and screening of licensed mental health professionals.
Additionally, the bill would require an annual report from Texas Southern University on certain information specified in the bill's provisions.
Methodology
The program is currently at the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), which contracts with University of North Texas at Dallas, and is funded at $1.2 million per fiscal year. Texas Southern University estimates a cost of approximately $3.2 million per fiscal year to establish and operate the expanded program. This cost, partially offset by the savings at TCOLE, would result in a net cost of approximately $2.0 million per fiscal year.
Texas Southern University expects to continue the current model of a state director and co-director as well as the eight-region format with one regional director each. However, Texas Southern University would propose an increase to 19.0 FTEs for the program by adding a co-director for each region to assist the director in recruiting peer volunteers, facilitating the training, informing the first responder community in their respective regions about available resources, and assisting first responders in connecting with resource providers.
Technology
Texas Southern University models the following technology costs, included in their estimate:
(1) $5,000 per FTE initial technology start-up costs;
(2) Provisioning mobile phones and services for state (2) and regional (16) directors and co-directors at $110 per phone;
(3) Maintaining the website of service providers at $10,000 per year;
(4) Maintaining iOS/Android application at $200 per month; and
(5) $250,000 per fiscal year to accommodate the technology needs of the statewide peer network program.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
407 Commission on Law Enforcement, 411 Commission on Fire Protection, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 717 Texas Southern University