LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 14, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Teel Bivins, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Education
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB724  by Zaffirini (Relating to continuing education
               courses and programs for public school educators), As
               Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  SB724, As Introduced:  negative impact of $(5,000,000) through the    *
*  biennium ending August 31, 2001.                                      *
*                                                                        *
*  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                *
          *       2000                         $(2,500,000)  *
          *       2001                          (2,500,000)  *
          *       2002                          (2,500,000)  *
          *       2003                          (2,500,000)  *
          *       2004                          (2,500,000)  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
         *****************************************************
         * Fiscal Year      Probable Savings/(Cost) from      *
         *                      General Revenue Fund          *
         *                              0001                  *
         *      2000                             $(2,500,000) *
         *      2001                              (2,500,000) *
         *      2002                              (2,500,000) *
         *      2003                              (2,500,000) *
         *      2004                              (2,500,000) *
         *****************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would authorize the Texas Education Agency to enter into
contracts with public or private organizations to provide continuing
education services for teachers.  It requires that the contracting
entity utilize institutions of higher education to provide the training,
and sets size limits on each course.  The bill requires that the state
auditor audit each contract each year.
  
  
Methodology
  
Since the agency is directed to use funds appropriated for the purpose of
the contracts, it can be assumed that this law establishes the basis of
an appropriation.  Continuing education for teachers could involve a cost
of several million dollars each year.

Because the bill requires professional development courses under contract
with TEA to include at least 105 hours of classroom training, it assumed
that the cost of each course would be approximately $500 per enrollee.
Assuming 5,000 teachers are trained each year, this note projects an
annual cost of $2.5 million
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   701   Texas Education Agency - Administration
LBB Staff:         JK, CT, RN