LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 16, 2007

TO:	Honorable Rob Eissler, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3487 by King, Susan (Relating to staff development requirements concerning the instruction of students with disabilities in public schools.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require teachers of students for whom an individualized education program (IEP) has been developed to complete a minimum number of hours of staff development in the instruction of students with disabilities every three years.  The bill would direct the Commissioner of Education to adopt rules and develop a three-year implementation plan requiring one-third of teachers requiring training be trained in each of the first three years of implementation.  The Texas Education Agency indicates that several relevant training programs are current available through Regional Education Service Centers (RESCs).  No significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.

Local Government Impact

For purposes of this estimate, it is assumed that all teachers would require training under the provisions of the bill, which would result in about 105,333 teachers being trained in each of the first three years of implementation. Assuming a $250 fee for training through RESCs, the annual cost is estimated at $26.3 million statewide.  To the extent that teachers are already participating in regular training that would fulfill the provisions of the bill, costs would be reduced.  It is assumed that local school districts would pay the cost of training.

Source Agencies:

701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, JSp, UP, JSc