LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 17, 2025 TO: Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB619 by Sparks (Relating to protection of persons from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.), As Introduced The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined as the necessary information to make appropriate assumptions to determine the fiscal impact is unknown. This includes case-level information at The Office of Court Administration and the Comptroller of Public Accounts and the impact to the Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Regulatory Services Division's complaint intake process. This bill amends the Health and Safety Code establishing the right of anyone providing or assisting in the provision of healthcare services to refuse to provide or assist in the provision of a specific service for reasons of conscience. Additionally, this bill limits liability and prohibits adverse action against those who exercise their right to decline to participate in a healthcare service for reasons of conscience, and outlines complaint processes and civil remedies. This bill is applicable to include ambulatory surgical centers, general and special hospitals, limited services rural hospitals, and private psychiatric hospitals. This bill would take effect September 1, 2025.According to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the agency's Regulatory Services Division (RSD) anticipates a significant increase in the number of abuse, neglect, and exploitation complaints. However, the information on the volume of the declinations of service and the potential impact on RSD staff is unknown; therefore, the fiscal impact as a result of this bill to HHSC cannot be determined. According to the Office of Court Administration and the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the revenue impact of the bill would be dependent on the number of complaints filed with the applicable licensing agencies and the resulting penalties under the applicable laws. The authorization to bring a civil action could result in an increase in state revenue due to fees associated with civil cases. Any potential penalty and fee revenue cannot be estimated.According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Department of State Health Services implementation of the provisions of this bill are able to be accomplished within existing agency resources. Local Government ImpactThe fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 454 Department of Insurance, 503 Texas Medical Board, 507 Texas Board of Nursing, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, NPe, ER, LBl, NV
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 17, 2025
TO: Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB619 by Sparks (Relating to protection of persons from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB619 by Sparks (Relating to protection of persons from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.), As Introduced
Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB619 by Sparks (Relating to protection of persons from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.), As Introduced
SB619 by Sparks (Relating to protection of persons from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined as the necessary information to make appropriate assumptions to determine the fiscal impact is unknown. This includes case-level information at The Office of Court Administration and the Comptroller of Public Accounts and the impact to the Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Regulatory Services Division's complaint intake process.
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined as the necessary information to make appropriate assumptions to determine the fiscal impact is unknown. This includes case-level information at The Office of Court Administration and the Comptroller of Public Accounts and the impact to the Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Regulatory Services Division's complaint intake process.
This bill amends the Health and Safety Code establishing the right of anyone providing or assisting in the provision of healthcare services to refuse to provide or assist in the provision of a specific service for reasons of conscience. Additionally, this bill limits liability and prohibits adverse action against those who exercise their right to decline to participate in a healthcare service for reasons of conscience, and outlines complaint processes and civil remedies. This bill is applicable to include ambulatory surgical centers, general and special hospitals, limited services rural hospitals, and private psychiatric hospitals. This bill would take effect September 1, 2025.According to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the agency's Regulatory Services Division (RSD) anticipates a significant increase in the number of abuse, neglect, and exploitation complaints. However, the information on the volume of the declinations of service and the potential impact on RSD staff is unknown; therefore, the fiscal impact as a result of this bill to HHSC cannot be determined. According to the Office of Court Administration and the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the revenue impact of the bill would be dependent on the number of complaints filed with the applicable licensing agencies and the resulting penalties under the applicable laws. The authorization to bring a civil action could result in an increase in state revenue due to fees associated with civil cases. Any potential penalty and fee revenue cannot be estimated.According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Department of State Health Services implementation of the provisions of this bill are able to be accomplished within existing agency resources.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.
Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 454 Department of Insurance, 503 Texas Medical Board, 507 Texas Board of Nursing, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 454 Department of Insurance, 503 Texas Medical Board, 507 Texas Board of Nursing, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, NPe, ER, LBl, NV
JMc, NPe, ER, LBl, NV