TO:	Honorable Angie Chen Button, Chair, House Committee on International Relations & Economic Development
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3938 by Bell, Keith (Relating to the establishment of the industry-based certification advisory council and the transfer of certain duties to that advisory council.), As Introduced

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

The bill establishes an industry-based certification advisory council to advise the Texas Workforce Commission on the alignment of public high school career technology education programs with current and future workforce needs. Members of the council are not to be provided compensation, but they are entitled to reimbursement for necessary travel expenses incurred in performing their role on the council.

The bill transfers certain duties currently carried out by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to the council.

Fiscal Analysis

The bill does not designate an agency to provide administrative and staff support to the council that would be established. This analysis assumes that the Office of the Governor, though the Trusteed Programs, would provide this function.

According to the Office of the Governor, the provisions of the bill would create a fiscal impact to the state of $1.8 million over 5 years. This cost would involve the hiring of three FTEs, professional services related to the consultation of outside research expert, travel, and equipment.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the bill could require the commission to provide copies of final inventory and to provide consultation to the council. The agency assumes that these impacts can be absorbed with current resources.

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Comptroller's Office of Public Accounts, no fiscal implication is anticipated.

Methodology

The Office of the Governor assumes that one senior staff will lead and direct work related to the council's responsibilities, one data analyst will assist the council in carrying out and analyzing research related to industry-based certifications, and one administrative assistant will support all administrative, travel, and meeting coordination functions. These council staff members would require essential office equipment (phone, computer, printer) and supplies. Members of the council would also -be reimbursed for travel expenses and an outside research expert would need to be consulted to determine how statewide industry-based certifications would be accepted in the state.

The Office of the Governor based their estimated staffing costs per fiscal year of $98,000 for a Director I, $65,000 for a Data Analyst IV, and $30,000 for an Administrative Assistant II are all based on the staff assigned to the Texas Skill Standard Board when it was an advisory council staffed by TWIC. The benefits for these FTEs are calculated at $65,659 per fiscal year. Calculated travel expenses of $9,372 per year are based on the five-year averages for the Texas Workforce Investment Council. Yearly equipment ($2,196) and supply ($2,197) costs are based on TWIC's three-year average. The estimated cost of $85,000 per year for an outside research expert is based off the cost of a currently existing contract between the Texas Education Agency and a university research group performing the same function to that created by the provisions outlined in the bill.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.