LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 6, 2005

TO:	Honorable Kent Grusendorf, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB444 by Leibowitz (Relating to the proximity of a school bus stop to the residence of sex offender or sexually violent predator. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require that school bus stops be placed at least 1,000 feet from the property line of a registered sex offender or a person committed as a sexually violent predator.  It could have an indirect impact on state cost for the Transportation Allotment in the Foundation School Program as a result of requiring school districts to redesign bus routes in order to relocate stops, thereby incurring higher mileage on some routes.  

The bill would take effect immediately upon passage by the necessary voting margins or on September 1, 2005 and would apply beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.

Local Government Impact

Some additional administrative costs may be incurred as part of the review of routes and stops.  These costs could be significant to a given district depending on the complexity of the locations of students and sex offenders; however, on a statewide basis no siginificant fiscal implication is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

537 Department of State Health Services, 701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, CT, UP, KC