Honorable Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1227 by Shapiro (Relating to enrollment in public and private postsecondary educational institutions, to payment of the costs of attending those educational institutions, and to financial aid and other measures to assist students to pay those costs. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1227, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($6,239,050) through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.
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
2006
($3,057,206)
2007
($3,181,844)
2008
$0
2009
$0
2010
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from EST OTH EDUC & GEN INCO 770
2006
($3,057,206)
($3,057,206)
2007
($3,181,844)
($3,181,844)
2008
2009
2010
Fiscal Analysis
The bill amends various section of the Education Code relating to financial aid. The bill renames the TEXAS Grant II program, as the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant program. The bill also changes eligibility requirements for Tuition Equalization Grants. The bill would require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop a comprehensive financial aid training program. The Higher Education Coordinating Board could implement provisions of the bill within existing resources.
The bill, as amended, reduces tuition rates for summer terms at Texas A&M Univeristy for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 by 25 percent.
Methodology
Based on analysis by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, it is estimated that 13,641 full-time students would be eligible for reduced tuition. The Higher Education Coordinating Board estimates a total of 111,171 hours would be generated in summer 2006 and 115,703 hours would be generated in summer 2007. The reimbursement rate for the state would be $27.50 per hour. The tuition reimbursement cost for 2006 would be $3,057,206; the cost for 2007 would be $3,181,833.
Based on the following language, “This section applies only if the legislature specifically appropriates money to cover the tuition revenue lost,” it is assumed that an equivalent amount of general revenue funds would be needed to reimburse the university for the loss of both appropriated and designated tuition revenue.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.