FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATURE 4th CALLED SESSION 2023
December 1, 2023
TO:
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB5 by Huffman (Relating to the school safety allotment under the Foundation School Program and the establishment of a school safety grant program; making an appropriation.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB5, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($800,000,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
Costs associated with providing and administering grants under the grant program would be subject to appropriation. The bill would provide a $400,000,000 appropriation for the 2024-25 biennium to support the program. In future years, the costs of the program cannot be determined.
Appropriations:
Fiscal Year
Appropriation out of General Revenue Fund 1
2024
$800,000,000
2025
$0
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2024
($400,000,000)
2025
($400,000,000)
2026
($200,000,000)
2027
($200,000,000)
2028
($200,000,000)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Foundation School Fund 193
2024
($200,000,000)
($200,000,000)
2025
($200,000,000)
($200,000,000)
2026
($200,000,000)
2027
($200,000,000)
2028
($200,000,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would establish the School Safety Grant Program. From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the program, the Commissioner would be required to annually provide grants to school districts and charter schools to comply with TEC, Sec. 37.0814, requiring an armed security officer at each campus, as established under H.B. 3, 88th Legislature, Regular Session. The Commissioner would be required to establish a minimum funding amount for the grant program.
The bill would appropriate $400.0 million for the School Safety Grant Program for the 2024-25 biennium.
The bill would amend the School Safety Allotment. Under the provisions on the bill, the allotment per campus would be increased from $15,000 to $30,000 and the allotment per student in average daily attendance (ADA) would be increased from $10 to $20.
The bill would appropriate $400.0 million for the 2024-25 biennium to fund the increases to the School Safety Allotment under the bill.
Methodology
This analysis assumes the cost to provide grants and administer the School Safety Grant Program would be subject to appropriation. Therefore, this analysis assumes that the total cost of the program would equal the $400.0 million appropriated for the program during the 2024-25 biennium. For future fiscal years, this analysis assumes the cost would be subject to appropriation; thus, the cost to provide grants and administer the program beyond fiscal year 2025 cannot be determined.
This analysis assumes the cost to the FSP of increasing the school safety allotment would be $200 million each fiscal year. As the bill would not require an increase to the basic allotment above $6,160, which under current law would result in an additional $1 per ADA for every $50 increase to the basic allotment above $6,160, this analysis assumes a school safety allotment of $30,000 per campus and $20 per ADA.
This analysis assumes S.B. 2, 88th Legislature, Fourth Called Session, would not become law. Therefore, this analysis assumes the bill would appropriate $400.0 million for the 2024-25 biennium for increases to the school safety allotment. If S.B. 2, 88th Legislature, Fourth Called Session, would become law, the appropriation related to the increases to the school safety allotment from this legislation would not take place.
Local Government Impact
This analysis assumes Local Education Agencies (LEAs) would receive additional funding under the bill through the School Safety Grant Program and the School Safety Allotment to assist with the cost of complying with school safety requirements.