LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 27, 2007

TO:
Honorable Rob Eissler, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2312 by Rose (Relating to guardrails on school district bleachers.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

This bill would require vertical perimeter guardrails on school district bleachers.  The bill would require school districts to comply with the requirement for all bleachers acquired or constructed after June 1, 2007.  School districts would further be required to bring all bleachers owned as of June 1, 2007, into compliance with the guardrail requirement by January 1, 2008.

The commissioner of education would be provided authority to adopt rules prescribing guardrail standards and to grant a waiver or an extension of the deadline for compliance for bleachers owned by a school district on June 1, 2007.  The commissioner would be prohibited from granting an extension or waiver for bleachers acquired or constructed by a school district after June 1, 2007.
 
This legislation would take effect immediately upon passage with the necessary voting margins or September 1, 2007.

The Texas Education Agency anticipates that additional workload associated with adopting rules and considering requests for waivers and extensions under the bill could be absorbed within existing  resources.


Local Government Impact

Districts that own bleachers without vertical perimeter guardrails or with guardrails that do not meet adopted standards would be required to purchase and install compliant guardrails.  Based on a survey of vendors, the Texas Education Agency indicates that guardrail costs vary from $96 - $123 per linear foot, depending upon materials.  Costs to individual school districts to comply with the bill's requirements would be expected to vary depend upon the configuration and location of the bleachers and the extent to which bleachers are currently equipped with suitable guardrails.  For example, estimated costs for vertical perimeter guardrails in an indoor setting with a 500-seat capacity might be as low as $5,000, while equipping an outdoor facility with a seating capacity of 1,000 could cost as much as $24,000.


Source Agencies:
701 Central Education Agency
LBB Staff:
JOB, UP, JSp