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

SPONSOR Taylor

DATE TYPED 2-21-05

HB 932

SHORT TITLE Low-Interest Loans for Disabled

SB

ANALYST Segura

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$274.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

$820.9

Recurring Technology Assis-

tance Program

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 932 appropriates $274.0 for the Technology Assistance Program of the Vocational

Rehabilitation division of the PED.

Significant Issues

According to DVR, the appropriation will match $820.9 in federal funds. The federal funds will

be lost if not matched by 9-30-05.

House Bill 932 -- Page 2

DVR indicates that rehabilitation technology allows individuals with disabilities to be more in-

dependent in their daily functions including work duties. Rehabilitation technology is a means

for an individual with a disability to increase income/earning potential. A low-interest or no-

interest loan helps individuals with disabilities with limited income to purchase assistive de-

vices/rehabilitation technology.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 932 appropriates $274.0 in general fund for FY06 and is recurring.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provides these services and is well equipped with the

resources aligned to meet this key strategy of assisting individuals with disabilities to secure ap-

propriate rehabilitation technology to meet the individual’s needs.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to DVR, Rehabilitation technology can be of various forms to address issues of com-

munication, mobility, independent functioning at home or job, computer software/hardware, vis-

ual aids and auditory aids.

RS/lg