LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session March 18, 1997 TO: Honorable Allen Hightower, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 279 Committee on Corrections By: West, George "Buddy" House Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB279 ( Relating to a requirement that physically and mentally able inmates of the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice participate in work and educational programs.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB279-As Introduced Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net negative impact of $(146,323,068) to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium ending August 31, 1999. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. Fiscal Analysis The bill would amend the Government Code by requiring each inmate in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) who is physically and mentally capable, to participate at least 60 hours per week in an agricultural, vocational, industrial, or other work program. Additionally, inmates who do not have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, but who are capable of obtaining one, would be required to participate at least 10 hours per week in an educational program. Methodolgy For all inmates with the learning ability to achieve a high school education to participate at least 10 hours weekly in an educational program would add approximately 10,000 students to the Windham School System. To maintain a staffing level of 50 students to 1 teacher ratio, it is estimated that Windham would add approximately 200 more academic teachers. Requiring each capable inmate to participate 60 hours weekly in a work related program would increase the aggregate number of inmate hours worked by approximately 2.3 million hours per week. This estimate assumes that 15% of the additional work could be supervised with existing resources, and that new work shifts would maintain a ratio of one supervisor per 25 inmate workers. Under this scenario, it is estimated that TDCJ would require an additional 1,946 full-time supervisors. It is estimated that the additional work hours would be added to unit-support work programs, rather than industry or agriculture programs, as TDCJ estimates that the industry and agriculture programs are currently operating at maximum production capacity. The estimate assumes the bill will have immediate effect. The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first six years following passage is estimated as follows: Six Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Probable Change in Number Savings/(Cost) Savings/(Cost) of State from Foundation from General Employees from School Fund Revenue Fund FY 1997 0193 0001 1997 ($7,250,000) ($22,014,614) 2,146.0 1997 (14,500,000) (44,029,227) 2,146.0 1999 (14,500,000) (44,029,227) 2,146.0 2000 (14,500,000) (44,029,227) 2,146.0 2001 (14,500,000) (44,029,227) 2,146.0 2002 (14,500,000) (44,029,227) 2,146.0 Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds: The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds during each of the first six years is estimated as follows: Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative) General Revenue Related Funds Funds 1997 ($29,264,614) 1998 (58,529,227) 1999 (58,529,227) 2000 (58,529,227) 2001 (58,529,227) 2002 (58,529,227) Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Agencies: 696 Department of Criminal Justice 701 Texas Education Agency - Administration LBB Staff: JK ,CB ,JN