LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 5, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Irma Rangel, Chair, House Committee on Higher
               Education
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB1359  by Villarreal, Mike (Relating to criteria
               developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
               Board to standardize the transfer of course credit
               between public institutions of higher education.), As
               Introduced
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill requires the Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) develop
criteria to be used by each institution of higher education to
standardize transfer practices.  The bill would also require THECB to
evaluate those transfer practices.

THECB estimates minimal costs to General Revenue in FY 2002 and FY 2003
for additional staff time and support.  However, LBB believes THECB can
absorb these costs as part of the work it already performs through its
existing Advisory Committee on Transfer Issues.

In addition, THECB estimates an impact of reduced enrollment from
students not having to repeat courses that would result in savings for
the General Revenue Fund of $1.32 million per year in fiscal year 2004
and fiscal year 2005, and $2.64 million per year in subsequent years.
  
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