LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 25, 2001 TO: Honorable Paul Sadler, Chair, House Committee on Public Education FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB395 by Wise (Relating to the safety of school district playgrounds.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted ************************************************************************** * No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. The bill requires each school district to appoint a qualified current district employee to serve as the playground safety coordinator. Through the actions of the safety coordinator, school districts would be required to ensure that all new and all existing school district playgrounds substantially comply with the latest federal standards pertaining to playground safety. New school playgrounds are already required to comply with the federal playground safety standards under Section 756.061 of the Health and Safety Code, so this bill does not add any new costs to school districts that are installing new playgrounds. There may be costs to school districts that must bring existing playgrounds into compliance with the federal playground safety standards. To completely replace an existing, non-compliant playground with new equipment and surfacing could would cost about $15,000 to $20,000 on average. For many school districts, these funds would be raised by student and parent/teacher organizations at the particular schools. Source Agencies: 701 Texas Education Agency LBB Staff: JK, CT, PF, RN