LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                        February 21, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Irma Rangel, Chair           IN RE:  House Bill No. 29
         Committee on Higher Education                  By: Goolsby
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas







FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
29 (Relating to tuition-free higher education of senior citizens)
this office has determined the following:

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

The bill would allow senior citizens to enroll for credit in up
to six  hours of courses each semester without payment of tuition
at all public institutions of higher education, including
community/junior colleges.  Currently, senior citizens are able
to audit courses without paying tuition.  It is assumed that if
this bill is implemented students would chose to take courses for
credit.

The estimates below reflect the cost of additional formula
funding due to increased semester credit hours generated by
senior citizens at public community colleges, technical colleges,
universities, and health-related institutions.

The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of
the bill during each of the first  five years following passage
is estimated as follows:    




            Fiscal  Probable Cost Out 
             Year      of  General    
                     Revenue Fund 001 
                                      
          1996                $249,000
          1997                 260,858
                                      
          1998                 272,715
                                      
          1999                 284,572
          2000                 296,438
                                      
                                      
                                      

       Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the 
provisions of the bill are in effect.




Source:   Higher Education Coordinating Board
          LBB Staff: JK, MK, WRR