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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Gubbels DATE TYPED: 02/15/01 HB 366
SHORT TITLE: Traditional Family Health Education Program SB
ANALYST: Taylor


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
 Recurring

or Non-Rec

 Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 300.0 Recurring General Fund



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Department of Health

Human Services Department



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 366 appropriates $300.0 from the general fund to The Human Services Department to support a statewide program to educate low-income families on traditional non-medical health care techniques, nutrition, and home first aid. The appropriation would also support the publication and distribution of health handbooks and the purchase and distribution of first-aid kits.



PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS



The Human Services Department, or its contractor for this program, should develop performance measures. Ideally, the department would be able to track outcomes such as improvements to basic health. Such information is not likely to be readily discernible, however. An easy measure to track would be the number of families receiving health education (output). The Department of Health reports that an agency with experience in the field has conducted evaluations showing that this kind of training results in reduced emergency and doctor visits, and that participants report a high level of satisfaction. These suggest additional performance measures.











FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $300.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY02 shall revert to the general fund.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



None reported by the Human Services Department.



OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



The Department of Health reports that health education programs have been found helpful in assisting individuals to make good decisions as to when to seek care, how to identify and describe symptoms and what measures to take at home to treat simple health problems.



POSSIBLE QUESTIONS