LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 15, 2003

TO:	Honorable Kent Grusendorf, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3243 by Pitts (Relating to the release of questions and answer keys for and to paying the costs of assessment instruments administered by the state to public school students.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill modifies the schedule of release for Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests to reduce the frequency of releases to every other year.  The Texas Education Agency estimates that releasing the 2003 test, but not releasing the 2004 tests, would save about $5 million in the next biennium in contracting costs.  However, the bill would not alter the process by which savings in set-aside programs flow back to school districts, and thus the state would not realize those savings.

The bill also changes the funding source for testing costs to a source within the Foundation School Program other than funds set aside from the compensatory education allotment.   This provision has no fiscal impact on the state.   

Local Government Impact

School districts would see a slight increase in their compensatory education allotment amounts, totaling an estimated $5 million statewide.

Source Agencies:	701 Central Education Agency
LBB Staff:	JK, CT, UP, JGM