LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          April 6, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair          IN RE:  House Bill No. 85,
         Committee on Education                                  as
         Senate                                 engrossed
         Austin, Texas                             









FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
85 (Relating to the development of distance learning and related
activities by institutions of higher education) 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 require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to
develop a comprehensive master plan regarding distance learning
and other applications of instructional electronic technology for
institutions of higher education. The plan would include
recommendations for coordination of statewide resources,
infrastructure development, training, funding  and fee issues,
public utility regulatory policies, and statutory or regulatory
changes.  The bill also would require an advisory committee
comprised of representatives of institutions of higher education,
experts in distance learning, and lay persons.

Because planning activities related to the coordination of higher
education are currently part of the Coordinating Board's mission,
the requirements of this bill would fall within current
expectations.  Assuming the current level of Coordinating Board
activities continue, no additional costs to the state are
expected.  Additionally, institutions of higher education
currently provide support for advisory committees participating    




in statewide studies and planning efforts.  It is assumed that
the advisory committee requirement of this bill would be 
undertaken as part of the existing institutional support for such
efforts.  There could be some costs for travel associated with
lay and expert private sector advisory committee representatives
but these costs should not be significant.

No fiscal implication to the State or units of local government
is anticipated.
    

    







Source:   LBB Staff: JK, WRR