LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 14, 2009

TO:	Honorable Rob Eissler, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2488 by Hochberg (relating to open-source textbooks for public schools. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the State Board of Education to adopt open-source textbooks for secondary courses submitted by certain institutions of higher education or public technical institutes in Texas on a conforming or non-conforming list if the textbooks meet requirements established in the bill.

The bill would require school districts and charter schools that select open-source textbooks to requisition printed copies of the textbooks or portions of the textbooks for students lacking the technology to access the open-source materials or to arrange for the student to have the necessary technology to access the materials at no charge.  To the extent that open-source textbooks are selected by districts in place of traditional textbooks, the lower cost of these materials could result in overall state savings.

The bill would require some programming changes in the Educational Materials and Textbooks (EMAT) System.  The Texas Education Agency estimates associated costs could be managed within existing resources. 

Local Government Impact

School districts that choose open-source textbooks would be required either to requisition printed copies or provide technological equipment for students without access to technology required to use open-source materials.

Source Agencies:

701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, JSp, JGM, JSc