LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 9, 2007

TO:
Honorable Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair, Senate Committee on International Relations & Trade
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2235 by Guillen (Relating to the creation of a technology center grant program for rural counties.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code to provide the authority for the Office of Rural Community Affairs to establish a technology center grant program for rural counties with populations of not more than 125,000.

 

The bill would provide technology center grants, subject to the availability of funds, to be awarded to public institutions of higher education, public high schools, and governmental entities for the development and operation of technology centers which provide: community access to technology; computer literacy programs; educational programs designed to provide concurrent enrollment credit for high school students taking postsecondary courses in information and emerging technologies; training for careers in technology-related fields and other highly skilled industries; and technology-related continuing and adult education programs.

 

The bill would allow the Office of Rural Community Affairs to seek, receive, and spend money received through an appropriation, grant, donation, or reimbursement from any public or private source to implement the provisions of this bill.

 

This bill would require that not later than October 1, 2007, the Office of Rural Community Affairs shall establish the rural technology center grant program, and the Office of Rural Community Affairs shall award the first grants under that program no later than January 1, 2008, subject to the availability of program funding.

 

Based on information provided by the Office of Rural Community Affairs, it is assumed that costs related to the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be covered by utilizing existing resources.  At this time, no additional funding has been identified for the purposes of this bill.

 

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2007.


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
357 Office of Rural Community Affairs
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, AH