LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
April 21, 1999
TO: Honorable Paul Sadler, Chair, House Committee on Public
Education
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB955 by Bivins (Relating to grants in support of
pre-reading instruction.), As Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB955, As Engrossed: negative impact of $(2,000,000) 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. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(1,000,000) *
* 2001 (1,000,000) *
* 2002 (1,000,000) *
* 2003 (1,000,000) *
* 2004 (1,000,000) *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
*****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from *
* General Revenue Fund *
* 0001 *
* 2000 $(1,000,000) *
* 2001 (1,000,000) *
* 2002 (1,000,000) *
* 2003 (1,000,000) *
* 2004 (1,000,000) *
*****************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create a grant program to support pre-reading instruction.
Grants would range between $50,000 and $150,000, and would be awarded
through a competitive process. The Commissioner of Education would be
instructed to distribute at least 95 percent of appropriated funds,
establish rules for administration of the grant program, certify
percentage low-income enrollment in pre-reading programs, determine
necessary matching funds from local sources, and evaluate the
effectiveness of grants.
Methodology
The bill corresponds with the Ready to Read Program, an initiative for
which $2 million has been proposed in the 2000-2001 biennium.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Districts that choose to apply for grants may incur administrative and
program costs. Districts and charter schools would be eligible to apply
for grants if they provide preschool instruction, have a program with at
least 75 percent low-income enrollment, and are able to raise local
matching funds. The amount of matching funds would be contingent on
local economic capacity, and would be determined by the Commissioner of
Education.
Source Agencies: TCER Texas Center for Educational Research, 701
Texas Education Agency - Administration
LBB Staff: JK, SD, CT, RN, CW