LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 27, 2001 TO: Honorable Fred M. Bosse, Chair, House Committee on Civil Practices FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1952 by Grusendorf (Relating to an award of attorney's fees to the prevailing party in certain suits related to public schools.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** Local Government Impact The bill would provide that in a civil suit brought against an independent school district for actions or omissions on the part of the district, the court shall award attorneys fees to the prevailing party. The provisions of the bill would not apply to a suit brought under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. To the extent that a school district loses a case brought against it under this law, the district would be responsible for attorneys fees awarded by the courts. The school district would also potentially gain from the provision when it prevails in such suits. Fiscal impact could potentially be significant and would vary depending on the number of lawsuits brought against the district and how many of those suits were lost. Source Agencies: 701 Texas Education Agency LBB Staff: JK, TB, DB