LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 22, 2009

TO:
Honorable Royce West, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3215 by Farias (Relating to the establishment of a down payment assistance program for certain professional educators by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code relating to the establishment of a down payment assistance program for certain professional educators by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation. 

According to the anlaysis provided by Central Education Agency, only school districts in Bexar County would be eligible for this program. Of the 12 school districts in Bexar County, eight—Edgewood, Harlandale, Somerset, Southside, South San Antonio, Southwest, East Central, and San Antonio—have less than 80 percent of the state average wealth per student in weighted average daily attendance. These districts have a total of 9,872 eligible full-time professional educators. If 5 percent of these educators were to participate in the down payment assistance program and if funds are available, the total cost to the school districts, at $2,000 per educator, would be $0.987 million.

Based on the analysis of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Central Education Agency, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.


Local Government Impact

According to the Central Education Agency, qualifying low-wealth school districts in Bexar County might be required to verify whether an applicant meets the employment qualifications to be eligible to receive assistance from this program. The county would incur administrative costs and each school district would be required to provide, as funds are available, up to $2,000 per qualifying professional educator for down payment assistance. 


Source Agencies:
332 Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 701 Central Education Agency
LBB Staff:
JOB, DB, MW, NV, TP