LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 5, 2021

TO:	Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Public Education

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB3298 by Allison (Relating to computer science and technology applications in public schools, including the essential knowledge and skills of the technology applications curriculum, the establishment of a computer science strategic advisory committee, and the establishment of a computer science and technology applications professional development grant program for public school teachers.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3298, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($1,839,496) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2022	($945,928)
2023	($893,568)
2024	($893,568)
2025	($893,568)
2026	($893,568)

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2021
2022	($945,928)	1.0
2023	($893,568)	1.0
2024	($893,568)	1.0
2025	($893,568)	1.0
2026	($893,568)	1.0

The bill's provisions would establish a grant program to promote computer science certification and
professional development in coding, technology applications, and computer science for public school teachers; and establish an advisory committee to provide recommendations related to computer science instruction and participation in public schools.

The bill's provisions would require the Commissioner of Education to allocate appropriated grant funds to eligible providers that offer professional development for elementary school and middle and junior high school teachers to ensure teachers maintain a working knowledge of current computer industry standard tools and resources and training for computer science certification for teachers in accordance with certification requirements adopted by the State Board of Educator Certification.

Based on information provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the grant program is estimated to cost $806,310 annually. TEA estimated this amount based on an assumption of two types of professional development programs which would be offered under the grant program. The first program would be for professional development of elementary school and middle and junior high school teachers at an estimated cost of $446,310 for multiple, separate, one day trainings. This estimate would cover the cost of training materials, space, and trainer's time, and is based on the 1,653 technology applications teachers participating in one of the single day trainings provided at $270 per teacher. The second program offered under this grant program would be for educators participating in training for computer science certification, which TEA estimates would cost approximately $360,000. This calculation is based on an assumption of $1,800 per educator for a 40 hour training. TEA further assumes that 10 teachers would participate from each education service center region, for the total noted above of $360,000 ($1,800 * 20 * 10).

TEA estimates one Education Specialist III FTE would be needed to develop criteria and rules for grant eligibility, administer the grant process, monitor the grant, provide technical assistance to educators and providers, and collect and report data related to the grant at an annual salary of $63,616. Benefits would be $20,688 and payroll contributions would be $954 annually. Other operating expenses would be $6,000 in FY 2022 and $2,000 in subsequent years.

This analysis assumes that costs associated with reimbursing travel and other expenses associated with the advisory committee would total $48,360 in fiscal year 2022.

Local Government Impact

As a result of the bill's provisions, institutions of higher education, regional education service centers, and/or school districts or partnership of multiple school districts could receive grant funding.