LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 3, 2003

TO:
Honorable Ray Allen, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB31 by Hodge (Relating to the provision of educational services to certain inmates imprisoned in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB31, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,610,810) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 ($2,305,405)
2005 ($2,305,405)
2006 ($2,305,405)
2007 ($2,305,405)
2008 ($2,305,405)




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003
2004 ($2,305,405) 74.0
2005 ($2,305,405) 74.0
2006 ($2,305,405) 74.0
2007 ($2,305,405) 74.0
2008 ($2,305,405) 74.0

The bill would amend the Government Code by establishing a policy to provide in-cell education to an inmate confined in administrative segregation. 

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code by establishing a policy to provide in-cell education to an inmate confined in administrative segregation of the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).  The policy would apply if the inmate would benefit from the education and if the education can be provided to the inmate in a way that does not pose a threat to the health or safety of department staff members or other inmates. 


Methodology

Prior to fiscal year 1995, TDCJ provided in-cell education to inmates in administrative segregation with 46 institutional aide positions and 28 test examiner positions.  At the time that in-cell education was eliminated, TDCJ estimates that 6,800 inmates were housed in administrative segregation, 5,000 of which received in-cell education.  As of the end of fiscal year 2002, records from TDCJ indicated that 9,059 inmates were confined in administrative segregation.  In order for TDCJ to restore in-cell education, it would need to restore the 46 institutional aide positions and the 28 test examiner positions to provide in-cell education.  Assuming salary and wages of $24,252 per year for each of the aide and examiner positions and $6,902 in retirement, group insurance and benefits for each aide, the yearly cost of implementing the provisions of the bill would be $2,305,405


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
696 Department Of Criminal Justice
LBB Staff:
JK, JO, WK, VDS, GG