LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 2, 2005

TO:	Honorable Kent Grusendorf, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2605 by Guillen (Relating to eligibility of children with learning disabilities for free public prekindergarten classes.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would entitle children of at least three years of age who have been diagnosed with a learning disability to enroll in state-funded prekindergarten and would take effect September 1, 2005.

Children between ages three and five with learning disabilities are currently eligible to enroll in public school special education early childhood programs and, under this provision, may be placed in a regular prekindergarten classroom if the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee determines that to be the most appropriate setting.  Based on the incidence of children with learning disabilities in the kindergarten population and the current incidence of children with learning disabilities in state-funded prekindergarten and special education early childhood programs, it is anticipated that the number of additional children who would become eligible for state-funded prekindergarten under the provisions of the bill would range from 175 in fiscal year 2006 to 260 in fiscal year 2010.  The estimated cost to the Foundation School Program would be $514,500 in fical year 2006, increasing to $768,800 in fiscal year 2010.

Local Government Impact

School districts would receive additional state aid under the Foundation School Program based on attendance of additional students in prekindergarten programs.

Source Agencies:

701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, CT, UP, JSc