LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 18, 2007

TO:	Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1043 by Dutton (relating to the provision of courses in behavioral modification by disciplinary alternative education programs and juvenile justice alternative education programs. ), Committee Report 2nd House, As Amended

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require all Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEPs) and Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEPs) to offer courses in behavioral modification taught by a person with at least a baccalaureate degree in behavioral science when practical.  The bill would allow school districts to obtain a waiver for the requirement that teachers of behavioral modification courses hold at least a baccalaureate degree and would require them to notify a student's parent or guardian. 

The bill would require that all teachers in DAEPs be certified under the provisions of Texas Education Code Chapter 21, Subchapter B.

Local Government Impact

To the extent that DAEPs and JJAEPs do not already offer courses in behavioral modification and to the extent that DAEPs must replace uncertified teachers with certified teachers, local costs could be incurred.  To the extent that DAEPs and JJAEPs opt to replace teachers of behavioral modification without baccalaureate degrees in behavioral science with teachers who meet the qualifications required by the bill rather than obtaining a waiver, local costs could be incurred.

Source Agencies:

665 Juvenile Probation Commission, 701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, JSp, MN, UP, JSc