LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 19, 2009 TO: Honorable Todd Hunter, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB3559 by Phillips (Relating to the qualifications and duties of a parenting coordinator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3559, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 19, 2009 TO: Honorable Todd Hunter, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB3559 by Phillips (Relating to the qualifications and duties of a parenting coordinator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Todd Hunter, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB3559 by Phillips (Relating to the qualifications and duties of a parenting coordinator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.), As Introduced Honorable Todd Hunter, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Honorable Todd Hunter, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB3559 by Phillips (Relating to the qualifications and duties of a parenting coordinator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.), As Introduced HB3559 by Phillips (Relating to the qualifications and duties of a parenting coordinator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3559, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3559, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. 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 2010 $0 2011 $0 2012 $0 2013 $0 2014 $0 2010 $0 2011 $0 2012 $0 2013 $0 2014 $0 All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Probable (Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009 2010 $31,243 ($31,243) 0.5 2011 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2012 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2013 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2014 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Probable (Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009 2010 $31,243 ($31,243) 0.5 2011 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2012 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2013 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2014 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2010 $31,243 ($31,243) 0.5 2011 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2012 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2013 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 2014 $23,143 ($23,143) 0.5 Fiscal Analysis The bill would amend the Family Code relating to the qualifications and duties of a parenting coordinator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. The bill would establish minimum qualifications for a parenting coordinator and requires that a court appoint only those persons meeting the qualifications. The bill would also provide for disclosure, withdrawal and other processes regarding conflict of interest of a parenting coordinator. Under the bill, a court that appoints a parenting coordinator would be required to specify whether the individual will serve in a confidential or non-confidential capacity, and would specify the duties of the parenting coordinator in the case. The bill would set out the criteria for removal of a parenting coordinator by a court. To the extent that the bill would affects judicial decision-making in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, no significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. However, implementation of bill provisions would result in significant costs to the Board of Examiners of Psychologists, as described below. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009. The bill would amend the Family Code relating to the qualifications and duties of a parenting coordinator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. The bill would establish minimum qualifications for a parenting coordinator and requires that a court appoint only those persons meeting the qualifications. The bill would also provide for disclosure, withdrawal and other processes regarding conflict of interest of a parenting coordinator. Under the bill, a court that appoints a parenting coordinator would be required to specify whether the individual will serve in a confidential or non-confidential capacity, and would specify the duties of the parenting coordinator in the case. The bill would set out the criteria for removal of a parenting coordinator by a court. To the extent that the bill would affects judicial decision-making in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, no significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009. Methodology Based on analysis provided the Board of Examiners of Psychologists (BEP), implementation of this bill would require 0.5 FTEs to investigate complaints regarding parenting coordinators. The FTE would cost $18,000 in salary and wages with associated benefits of $5,143 for each fiscal year of 2010-2014. Additionally, the FTE would require one-time equipment costs of $8,100 in fiscal year 2010. Technology The technology impact is anticipated to be $3,600 in fiscal year 2010. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 520 Board of Examiners of Psychologists, 537 State Health Services, Department of 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 520 Board of Examiners of Psychologists, 537 State Health Services, Department of LBB Staff: JOB, MN, TB, CH JOB, MN, TB, CH