LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 27, 2001 TO: Honorable Teel Bivins, Chair, Senate Committee on Education FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB623 by Hochberg (Relating to the selection, distribution, and use of public school textbooks; providing a criminal penalty.), As Engrossed ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill modifies several chapters of the Education Code relating to textbooks. The bill specifies districts shall allow students to take home any textbook used by the student and allows districts to requisition textbooks for grades above that in which a student is enrolled. The bill creates a Textbook Credit Pilot Program. Under the program, a participating district is entitled to a credit for textbooks purchased below the maximum allowable price. The credit may only be used for the purchase of textbooks on the conforming or nonconforming lists. It is assumed that the credit must be used in the same year in which it is generated, although the legislation is not specific in that regard. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) estimates that it would cost $200,000 to modify the current electronic textbook ordering and tracking system, EMAT. In addition, the agency estimates that one full-time equivalent position requiring approximately $60,000 in salary and support costs would be necessary to implement the pilot. This fiscal note assumes that the pilot project could be implemented without modifying the EMAT system, but would probably require additional staff resources of less than $100,000 per year. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 701 Texas Education Agency LBB Staff: JK, CT, UP