Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4795 by Noble (Relating to duties of the vital statistics unit of the Department of State Health Services in relation to certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship, including in regard to the electronic transmission of certain information.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB4795, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($200,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
While the bill directs the agency to use existing resources to implement the provisions of the bill, this analysis assumes that any costs associated with the bill would result in the agency shifting funding resources from other programs and functions to implement the bill and would therefore still have a fiscal impact.
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
($200,000)
2027
$0
2028
$0
2029
$0
2030
$0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2026
($200,000)
2027
$0
2028
$0
2029
$0
2030
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to establish an electronic process using existing resources through which the Department of Family and Protective (DFPS) may request information from the Court of Continuing Jurisdiction (CCJ) Registry.
The bill would require DSHS to establish an electronic process using existing resources through which DFPS may request information from the paternity registry.
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to adopt rules as soon as practicable after the effective date of the Act.
Methodology
According to DSHS, the agency would work with the Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar (TxEVER) vendor to build a system module that would allow DFPS to search the CCJ and paternity registries directly in TxEVER as an online service. DFPS does not pay a fee for these inquiries, which they currently request by mail.
DSHS would communicate and coordinate with DFPS on the process of entering a request in TxEVER. DFPS manages their own TxEVER user accounts. Communication and coordination can be done within existing resources.
This analysis assumes that any costs associated with the bill for DFPS and HHSC can be absorbed within existing resources.
According to the Office of Court Administration, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated.
Technology
DSHS indicates that the one-time cost for modifications to TxEVER would be $200,000 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of