| TO: | Honorable Rob Eissler, Chair, House Committee on Public Education |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2360 by Veasey (Relating to transportation of public school students placed in a juvenile justice alternative education program.), As Introduced |
The bill would allow a school district to contract with a juvenile board to provide transportation services for students placed in a juvenile justice alternative education program (JJAEP). The bill would entitle a district or county operating a transportation system that provides transportation for students placed in JJAEPs to receive the transportation allotment in the Foundation School Program on behalf of each student placed in the JJAEP and transported by the district or county.
Due to changes made by House Bill 1, 79th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, increases to Foundation School Program formula funding elements are generally either offset by a decrease in districts' entitlement to hold harmless funds or an increase in funds dragged back to hold districts to a total revenue target. Since the bill does not amend Texas Education Code 42.2516 regarding the calculation of school district entitlements under the Foundation School Program, no net cost to the state associated with increases to the transportation allotment is expected.
If Texas Education Code 42.2516 were amended to allow for increases to the transportation allotment associated with the provisions of the bill, the estimated cost to the state would would be range from $200,000 to $500,000 annually. For purposes of this estimate, estimated costs are based on analysis of districts with student populations of a similar size to the total annual JJAEP population. Route miles associated with transporting students assigned to JJAEPs may vary significantly from those of a typical school district, and associated costs would vary accordingly.
The bill would entitle districts or counties to funding under the transportation allotment of the Foundation School Program on behalf of students placed in JJAEPs who are transported by the district or county. If Texas Education Code 42.2516 were amended to allow for associated increases to the transportation allotment, districts and counties could receive additional funding for transportation services provided on behalf of students assigned to JJAEPs.
Funds received through the Foundation School Program Transportation Allotment generally support a portion of a school districts transportation costs. To the extent that actual costs associated with transporting students assigned to JJAEPs exceed funds received through the transportation allotment, local governments would incur additional costs, which would vary significantly statewide.
| Source Agencies: | 665 Juvenile Probation Commission, 701 Central Education Agency
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, JSp, UP, JSc
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