LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 27, 2025 TO: Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB3282 by Dutton (Relating to certain procedures in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.), As Introduced The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the uncertainty of the length of time children might remain in conservatorship offset by a potential decrease in adoption assistance. The bill would add requirements on when the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) could file a petition for the termination of the parent-child relationship. The bill would also increase the automatic court dismissal to after the second anniversary of when the court rendered the order. According to DFPS, the requirements in the bill could result in an increase in the number of children in conservatorship, children remaining longer in conservatorship, as well as as fewer children becoming adopted. DFPS has noted that increased costs could potentially result from additional conservatorship case management staff, additional transitional living support services, and an increase to foster and kinship costs. Additionally, DFPS noted decreases in adoption assistance may offset these increases in cost. However, because the number of children that may remain in DFPS conservatorship for a longer period is unknown and because DFPS cannot forecast what options a relative caregiver might pursue, the impact on cost cannot be determined. Local Government ImpactNo fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, KDw, ER, AN
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 27, 2025
TO: Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB3282 by Dutton (Relating to certain procedures in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB3282 by Dutton (Relating to certain procedures in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.), 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
HB3282 by Dutton (Relating to certain procedures in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.), As Introduced
HB3282 by Dutton (Relating to certain procedures in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the uncertainty of the length of time children might remain in conservatorship offset by a potential decrease in adoption assistance.
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the uncertainty of the length of time children might remain in conservatorship offset by a potential decrease in adoption assistance.
The bill would add requirements on when the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) could file a petition for the termination of the parent-child relationship. The bill would also increase the automatic court dismissal to after the second anniversary of when the court rendered the order. According to DFPS, the requirements in the bill could result in an increase in the number of children in conservatorship, children remaining longer in conservatorship, as well as as fewer children becoming adopted. DFPS has noted that increased costs could potentially result from additional conservatorship case management staff, additional transitional living support services, and an increase to foster and kinship costs. Additionally, DFPS noted decreases in adoption assistance may offset these increases in cost. However, because the number of children that may remain in DFPS conservatorship for a longer period is unknown and because DFPS cannot forecast what options a relative caregiver might pursue, the impact on cost cannot be determined.
According to DFPS, the requirements in the bill could result in an increase in the number of children in conservatorship, children remaining longer in conservatorship, as well as as fewer children becoming adopted. DFPS has noted that increased costs could potentially result from additional conservatorship case management staff, additional transitional living support services, and an increase to foster and kinship costs.
Additionally, DFPS noted decreases in adoption assistance may offset these increases in cost. However, because the number of children that may remain in DFPS conservatorship for a longer period is unknown and because DFPS cannot forecast what options a relative caregiver might pursue, the impact on cost cannot be determined.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, KDw, ER, AN
JMc, KDw, ER, AN