Honorable Gary VanDeaver, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB44 by Geren (Relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to an inability to project what fiscal impact the changes proposed by the bill would have on the state court system.
Among other provisions, the bill would set out exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgement, would require the State Bar of Texas to develop, or solicit the development of, and offer to state-licensed attorneys a comprehensive program of continuing legal education regarding state regulation of abortion, and would require the Texas Medical Board (TMB) to make available one or more approved courses regarding the laws relating to pregnancy-related medical emergencies as the term "medical emergency" is used in public health provisions of the Health and Safety Code.
According to TMB, costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.
According to the Office of Court Administration, the agency cannot project what fiscal impact, if any, changes proposed by the bill would have on the state court system nor can the agency determine whether the State Bar can comply with the continuing legal education program that would be required by the bill using existing resources.
According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the bill would not impose or remove penalties or offenses related to abortion laws, therefore there would be no revenue implications for the state.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill to units of local government cannot be determined at this time.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 503 Texas Medical Board, 529 Health and Human Services Commission