LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session February 16, 2001 TO: Honorable Mike Moncrief, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services 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 1st House, Substituted ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** 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, HD, KC