LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 4, 2001 TO: Honorable Jim Solis, Chair, House Committee on Economic Development FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2824 by Smithee (Relating to the eligibility of public schools and libraries for certain funds.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would make ineligible for Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund grants or loans or for reduced telecommunications rates, any school district that does not install a "technology protection measure" designed to block or filter visually obscene Internet material. Public libraries that do not restrict minors from accessing such information or do not install a technology protection measure are also made ineligible for TIF funding. Local Government Impact To the extent that local school districts or public libraries do not conform with the requirements in the bill, they would not be eligible for certain grant funds and would therefore experience a loss of revenue. It is estimated that it could cost local school districts $5,000,000 in 2002 and $3,000,000 in subsequent years to install the appropriate technology protection measure. If they did not opt to install such devices, the district would not be eligible for Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund grants and/or loans. Source Agencies: 306 Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 701 Texas Education Agency LBB Staff: JK, JO, UP