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