LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 2, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Irma Rangel, Chair, House Committee on Higher
               Education
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB31  by Zaffirini (Relating to providing information
               about bacterial meningitis to students of public schools
               and students of institutions of higher education.),
               Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
(THECB) to prescribe procedures to disseminate information on bacterial
meningitis to new students (including transfer students) at state higher
education institutions.  It would require the same, yearly, from the
Texas Education Agency (TEA) with regards to all students in public
school districts.  THECB and TEA would work with the Texas Department of
Health (TDH) to develop the information content and establish an
advisory committee to assist in determining the methods for
dissemination.  Higher education institutions would also be required to
obtain the signature of new students acknowledging they have received
the information.  THECB believes there would be minimal costs associated
with adding a tear-out signature card to brochures distributed to higher
education students.  THECB feels the information on bacterial meningitis
could be distributed through current dissemination methods at little or
no cost.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.

Texas Education Agency estimates a minimal cost of $120,000 annually to
provide every public school student with a note to take home that
contains information on bacterial meningitis.  This cost would be
absorbed by local school districts statewide.
  
  
Source Agencies:   701   Texas Education Agency, 781   Texas Higher
                   Education Coordinating Board
LBB Staff:         JK, CT, HD, KC