LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session Revision 1 February 9, 2001 TO: Honorable Irma Rangel, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB140 by Wise (Relating to reimbursing veterans for the cost of required textbooks and similar required course materials.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * HB140, As Introduced: negative impact of $(5,878,600) through the * * biennium ending August 31, 2003. * * * * 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 would require that each institution establish a program to reimburse military veterans who qualify for tuition exemptions for the cost of required textbooks and course materials. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: **************************************************** * Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) * * Impact to General Revenue Related * * Funds * * 2002 $(2,939,300) * * 2003 (2,939,300) * * 2004 (2,939,300) * * 2005 (2,939,300) * * 2006 (2,939,300) * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State * * Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2001 * * 0001 * * 2002 $(2,939,300) 0.0 * * 2003 (2,939,300) 0.0 * * 2004 (2,939,300) 0.0 * * 2005 (2,939,300) 0.0 * * 2006 (2,939,300) 0.0 * *************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill would require institutions to establish programs that reimburse students who receive tuition exemptions under Section 54.203 of the Education Code for the cost of required textbooks and materials. This analysis assumes an effective date of September 1, 2001. While the Higher Education Coordinating Board believes some additional administrative workload would be added to the institutions, the LBB believes no additional full-time-equivalent positions would be needed to implement the provisions of the bill. Methodology The Higher Education Coordinating Board estimates the number of qualified veterans to be 8,398 per year and the average value of books and other required course materials to be $350 per year, assuming veterans are enrolling in an average of six hours per semester. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 781 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board LBB Staff: JK, CT, KC, DB