LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session May 19, 1999 TO: Honorable Paul Sadler, Chair, House Committee on Public Education FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1380 by Shapleigh (relating to review of criminal history record information of certified public school educators, persons admitted to educator preparation programs, and persons seeking educator certification and to designation of State Board for Educator Certification investigators as peace officers), Committee Report 2nd House, as amended ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * SB1380, Committee Report 2nd House, as amended: negative impact * * of $(410,953) 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. * * * * The bill version contains a provision that the bill will not be * * implemented unless there is a specific appropriation to fund * * implementation within House Bill 1, the General Appropriations * * Act. * ************************************************************************** General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: **************************************************** * Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) * * Impact to General Revenue Related * * Funds * * 2000 $(915,959) * * 2001 505,006 * * 2002 505,006 * * 2003 503,236 * * 2004 505,006 * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) Probable Savings/(Cost) from * * Year from General Revenue Fund General Revenue Fund * * 0001 0001 * * 2000 $699,300 $(1,615,259) * * 2001 1,050,000 (544,994) * * 2002 1,050,000 (544,994) * * 2003 1,050,000 (546,764) * * 2004 1,050,000 (544,994) * *************************************************************************** Technology Impact The bill would require a significant expansion of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System of the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Additional technology costs would be limited to personal computers and associated equipment for new staff. Total technology impact is estimated at $1,344,578 during fiscal year 2000. Fiscal Analysis The bill would require the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to obtain, from the FBI and DPS, criminal history information on all individuals admitted into an educator preparation program, and all applicants for an educator certificate. This requirement would begin on January 1, 2000. Also, the bill would authorize the Board to collect a fee from these individuals. Methodology DPS currently conducts 55,000 criminal history checks per year at the request of SBEC. Approximately 11,000 individuals each year are admitted to educator preparation programs. Conducting a national check through the FBI requires collecting a full set of fingerprints from the individual. The cost of conducting the state check is $15; the FBI check costs $25. SBEC will charge individuals a fee to offset these costs. It is estimated that 70,000 record checks for Educator Certification would be received in fiscal year 2001. This will generate revenue of $1,050,000 ($15 x 70,000) for the General Revenue Fund in the second year. The estimate for fiscal year 2000 was reduced proportionately because fee income would not begin until January, 2000. DPS would have to significantly expand the capacity of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) in order to process, in a timely manner, the projected number of fingerprint cards that would be required by the bill. Costs for additional hardware and storage capacity for AFIS are estimated at $1,344,578 during fiscal year 2000. The bill would also require an additional 12 full-time equivalent employees in DPS to process the record checks and fees, including 5 Fingerprint Technicians III. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, CT