Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Youth Health & Safety, Select
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3788 by Garcia (Relating to school district policies on dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment; providing an administrative penalty.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3788, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($1,651,845) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
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:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2024
($595,983)
2025
($1,055,862)
2026
($367,423)
2027
($367,423)
2028
($367,423)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2023
2024
($595,983)
2.0
2025
($1,055,862)
2.0
2026
($367,423)
2.0
2027
($367,423)
2.0
2028
($367,423)
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
This bill would require sexual assault, stalking, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment to be added to a school district's dating violence policy, material, and resource requirements. This bill would also require a school district peace officer or school resource office to complete their district's training program on dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment. This bill would add an annual reporting requirement for school districts related to the above offenses, including a summary of the investigation, disposition, and any resulting discipline. Finally, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) would report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and standing committees with primary jurisdiction over education on these incidents and the school districts' compliance with the bill.
Methodology
To support school districts with annual reports to the agency, and to prepare and submit an annual written report of all school districts, this analysis estimates that TEA will require a Project Manager V and a Program Specialist VI. The annual salary and benefits costs associated with the additional FTEs is estimated to be $246,215 in fiscal year 2024 and $ 258,667 in fiscal year 2025 and each subsequent year after.
Technology
This agency assumes that TEA would incur various onetime and ongoing technology costs to implement the provisions of the bill. The onetime technology costs would total $11,532 and the annual recurring costs would total $108,756.
The cost estimate to develop and implement the new application would be $229,480 fiscal year 2024 and $688,439 in fiscal year 2025.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. School districts would be required to submit annual reports, update handbooks, and provide comprehensive training for relevant school staff.