COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION



FISCAL NOTE



L.R. No.: 1024-02

Bill No.: Truly Agreed To And Finally Passes HCS for SB 266

Subject: Health Care; Health Care Professionals; Mental Health; Mental Health Dept.

Type: Original

Date: May 27, 2003




FISCAL SUMMARY



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on

General Revenue

Fund

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on Other

State Funds

$0 $0 $0



Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 4 pages.













ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on All

Federal Funds

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Local Government $0 $0 $0




FISCAL ANALYSIS



ASSUMPTION



Officials from the Department of Social Services assume the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their organization.



Officials from the Department of Mental Health (DMH) state the proposal requires the DMH to develop a plan to address the needs of persons who are on a waiting list for services. The development of the plan would not create a fiscal impact to the DMH. The cost of developing the plan would be absorbed by existing staff. However, while there is no fiscal impact for development of the plan, it should be noted that implementation of the plan would result in a significant fiscal impact to the DMH.



FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 2004

(10 Mo.)

FY 2005 FY 2006
$0 $0 $0





FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 2004

(10 Mo.)

FY 2005 FY 2006
$0 $0 $0

FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business



No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.



DESCRIPTION



This bill requires the Department of Mental Health to develop a plan to address the needs of persons who are on a waiting list for services. The plan must emphasize the partnership between developmentally disabled individuals and their families, community providers, and state officials. The plan shall include: 1) A method for reducing the waiting period ninety days; 2) A description of available services; 3) An evaluation of the capacity to serve more individuals; 4) A method of adjusting support and service levels based on individual needs; 5) A method for determining when out-of-home twenty-four hour care is necessary; 6) A description on how the plan will be implemented; 7) Any necessary changes to state law; and 8) An analysis of the monetary effects to providing services to all eligible individuals and their families.



The bill requires the plan to be completed by November 1, 2003. The Director of the Department must submit a copy to the General Assembly and the Governor.



The Departments of Mental Health and Social Services are to jointly prepare a plan to address the need for mental health services and supports for all Department of Social Services cases that involve children which exclusively need mental health services and where there is no instances of abuse, neglect or abandonment. The plan is to include an analysis of federal funding and waivers that may be used, an analysis of the budgetary and programmatic impact of meeting the needs of children, and an analysis of the feasibility of securing federal funds for the support of the needed mental health services and supports.



The plan is to be completed by January 1, 2004. The Directors of the Departments of Mental Health and Social Services must submit a copy of the plan to the Governor and the General Assembly.



This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.













SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Department of Mental Health

Department of Social Services























Mickey Wilson, CPA

Director

May 27, 2003