LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 27, 2025 TO: Honorable Lacey Hull, Chair, House Committee on Human Services FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB451 by Thompson (Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB451, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,126,802) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact toGeneral Revenue Related Funds2026($692,140)2027($434,662)2028$02029$02030$0All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Probable Savings/(Cost) fromGR Match For Medicaid758 Probable Savings/(Cost) fromFederal Funds5552026($685,968)($6,172)($90,466)2027($430,789)($3,873)($58,900)2028$0$0$02029$0$0$02030$0$0$0 Fiscal AnalysisThe bill would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to screen for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation using a validated, evidence-informed tool selected by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit no later than 45 days after a child enters the conservatorship of DFPS if the validation guidelines based on the child's age indicate the screening is appropriate or concerns of commercial sexual exploitation exist. The bill would require juvenile probation departments to screen for risk of commercial sexual exploitation using a validated, evidence-informed tool selected by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit before the disposition of a child's case.
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 27, 2025
TO: Honorable Lacey Hull, Chair, House Committee on Human Services FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB451 by Thompson (Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
TO: Honorable Lacey Hull, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB451 by Thompson (Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Honorable Lacey Hull, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
Honorable Lacey Hull, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB451 by Thompson (Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
HB451 by Thompson (Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB451, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,126,802) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB451, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,126,802) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
2026 ($692,140)
2027 ($434,662)
2028 $0
2029 $0
2030 $0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
2026 ($685,968) ($6,172) ($90,466)
2027 ($430,789) ($3,873) ($58,900)
2028 $0 $0 $0
2029 $0 $0 $0
2030 $0 $0 $0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to screen for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation using a validated, evidence-informed tool selected by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit no later than 45 days after a child enters the conservatorship of DFPS if the validation guidelines based on the child's age indicate the screening is appropriate or concerns of commercial sexual exploitation exist. The bill would require juvenile probation departments to screen for risk of commercial sexual exploitation using a validated, evidence-informed tool selected by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit before the disposition of a child's case.
The bill would require juvenile probation departments to screen for risk of commercial sexual exploitation using a validated, evidence-informed tool selected by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit before the disposition of a child's case.
Methodology
To date, the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit has allowed DFPS to utilize the Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool (CSE-IT) created by the West Coast Children's Clinic as an assessment tool for children 10 and older. This analysis assumes that DFPS would continue to utilize this screening tool and that it will be modified to assess children under the age of 10. According to DFPS, the agency, including Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCC) in Community-based Care regions, will be able to train staff within existing appropriations but the staff who conduct the training will be need to be certified. This analysis assumes a total 28.0 DFPS and SSCC Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) would need to become certified and each certification will cost $260, resulting in an estimated one-time need of $7,280 in All Funds in fiscal year 2026.It is also assumed that to ensure that assessments are done for all appropriate children and have the information be included in their case file, upgrades would be needed for the Information Management Protecting Children and Adults in Texas (IMPACT) system. The changes would integrate the screening tool into the system of record in IMPACT. Additionally, it is assumed that DFPS would include the Single Source Continuum Contractors in the design and development process to ensure their assessments are included in IMPACT. Currently, the screening tool is a standalone software that requires manual entry and is difficult to be used for monitoring and compliance. To upgrade IMPACT, this analysis assumes the need of 3.0 System Analyst V Contracted FTEs in fiscal year 2026 and 2.0 System Analyst V Contracted FTEs in fiscal year 2027. It is assumed that any costs to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department could be absorbed within existing appropriations.
It is also assumed that to ensure that assessments are done for all appropriate children and have the information be included in their case file, upgrades would be needed for the Information Management Protecting Children and Adults in Texas (IMPACT) system. The changes would integrate the screening tool into the system of record in IMPACT. Additionally, it is assumed that DFPS would include the Single Source Continuum Contractors in the design and development process to ensure their assessments are included in IMPACT. Currently, the screening tool is a standalone software that requires manual entry and is difficult to be used for monitoring and compliance. To upgrade IMPACT, this analysis assumes the need of 3.0 System Analyst V Contracted FTEs in fiscal year 2026 and 2.0 System Analyst V Contracted FTEs in fiscal year 2027. It is assumed that any costs to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department could be absorbed within existing appropriations.
Technology
Technology related costs including the enhancements to the IMPACT system are estimated to be $674,604 in fiscal year 2026 and $456,482 in fiscal year 2027.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal impact to juvenile probation departments cannot be determined. The impact would depend on if the local jurisdiction are already providing assessments or if they would need to hire someone to conduct the assessments. Additionally, the impact would also depend on if the juvenile probation departments will be using the existing CSE-IT tool or if they would need to use and learn a new tool.
Source Agencies: b > td > 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 644 Juvenile Justice Department
530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 644 Juvenile Justice Department
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, NPe, ER, AN, NV
JMc, NPe, ER, AN, NV