LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 13, 2025 TO: Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2301 by Campos (Relating to registration with and searches of the state registry of paternity.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2301, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,384,852) 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 toGeneral Revenue Related Funds2026($4,384,852)2027$02028$02029$02030$0All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund12026($4,384,852)2027$02028$02029$02030$0 Fiscal AnalysisThe bill would shorten the length of time that a man who desires to be notified of a proceeding for the adoption of or the termination of parental rights regarding a child that he may have fathered had to register with the registry of paternity from not later than the 31st day after the date of birth of a child to not later than the 14th day after the date of birth of a child. Notification of untimely filing of registration would be provided by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to the man who registers after the 14th day.If a father-child relationship has not been established, a petitioner for the adoption of or the termination of parental rights may request a search of the registry on or after the 15th day after the birth of the child to obtain a certificate of the results of a search of the registry. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) may not by rule impose a waiting period that must elapse before DSHS will conduct the requested search.The bill would require DSHS to furnish a certificate of the results of a search of the registry no later than the 10th day after the date of the receipt of a request by an individual, a court, or agency.
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 13, 2025
TO: Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2301 by Campos (Relating to registration with and searches of the state registry of paternity.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2301 by Campos (Relating to registration with and searches of the state registry of paternity.), As Introduced
Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB2301 by Campos (Relating to registration with and searches of the state registry of paternity.), As Introduced
HB2301 by Campos (Relating to registration with and searches of the state registry of paternity.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2301, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,384,852) 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.
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2301, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,384,852) 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.
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:
2026 ($4,384,852)
2027 $0
2028 $0
2029 $0
2030 $0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
2026 ($4,384,852)
2027 $0
2028 $0
2029 $0
2030 $0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would shorten the length of time that a man who desires to be notified of a proceeding for the adoption of or the termination of parental rights regarding a child that he may have fathered had to register with the registry of paternity from not later than the 31st day after the date of birth of a child to not later than the 14th day after the date of birth of a child. Notification of untimely filing of registration would be provided by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to the man who registers after the 14th day.If a father-child relationship has not been established, a petitioner for the adoption of or the termination of parental rights may request a search of the registry on or after the 15th day after the birth of the child to obtain a certificate of the results of a search of the registry. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) may not by rule impose a waiting period that must elapse before DSHS will conduct the requested search.The bill would require DSHS to furnish a certificate of the results of a search of the registry no later than the 10th day after the date of the receipt of a request by an individual, a court, or agency.
Methodology
According to DSHS, the agency would request for paternity registry inquiries to be made online to meet the 10-day timeline requirement in the bill to ensure minimization of delays due to mail and manual processes. DSHS would work with the TxEVER vendor to build a system module that would allow the Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) to search the paternity registry directly in TxEVER as an online service. DFPS does not pay a fee for paternity registry inquiries, which the agency currently requests by mail. DSHS estimates that TxEVER module development would cost $200,000 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026.DSHS would communicate and coordinate with DFPS on the process of entering a request in TxEVER and printing a certificate of the search results. DFPS manages their own TxEVER user accounts. Communication and coordination can be done with existing resources.A new service for Texas.gov would be required to allow other qualified applicants, outside DFPS, to request a paternity registry search and for a certificate of search results to be provided in real time and allow for fee collection. DSHS would use the existing Department of Information Resources' (DIR) Technology Solution Services mechanism for contracting development for the Texas.gov platform. DSHS estimates that Texas.gov development would cost $3,300,024 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026. DSHS has indicated additional HHSC Information Technology (IT) Staff Augmentation services needs for implementation of Texas.gov modifications including Quality Assurance Analyst and Project Manager services. This analysis only includes a cost $287,326 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026 for additional Project Manager III services.DSHS would work with DIR and their Texas.gov vendor to add paternity registry inquiry as an online service for other qualified applicants outside DFPS. Qualified applicants pay a fee for paternity registry inquiries, which they currently request by mail. There would not be an increase in applications or impact to revenue as a result of this bill. DSHS would have third party Independent Verification and Validation (IVV) services for comprehensive review, analysis, and testing to verify the system correctly implements the required functionality and security requirements. DSHS estimates that IVV services would cost $350,000 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026.This analysis assumes a contingency amount of $247,502 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026.According to responses provided by DFPS and HHSC, any costs incurred by the agencies can be absorbed within existing resources.
DSHS has indicated additional HHSC Information Technology (IT) Staff Augmentation services needs for implementation of Texas.gov modifications including Quality Assurance Analyst and Project Manager services. This analysis only includes a cost $287,326 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026 for additional Project Manager III services.DSHS would work with DIR and their Texas.gov vendor to add paternity registry inquiry as an online service for other qualified applicants outside DFPS. Qualified applicants pay a fee for paternity registry inquiries, which they currently request by mail. There would not be an increase in applications or impact to revenue as a result of this bill. DSHS would have third party Independent Verification and Validation (IVV) services for comprehensive review, analysis, and testing to verify the system correctly implements the required functionality and security requirements. DSHS estimates that IVV services would cost $350,000 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026.This analysis assumes a contingency amount of $247,502 from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2026.According to responses provided by DFPS and HHSC, any costs incurred by the agencies can be absorbed within existing resources.
Technology
Technology costs outlined above include TxEVER module development, Texas.gov modifications and development, HHSC IT Staff Augmentation, IVV services, and contingency funding.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: b > td > 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, KDw, ER, APA, NV
JMc, KDw, ER, APA, NV