LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 20, 2009

TO:	Honorable Rob Eissler, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3647 by Hochberg (Relating to eligibility of certain children for public school prekindergarten classes.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would include step-parent in the definition of parent for purposes of determining requirements and eligibility for free public prekindergarten.  It is the current policy of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to include adopted children and stepchildren for these purposes.

The bill would extend eligibility for free public prekindergarten to children of teachers in schools serving a population that is greater than 99 percent economically disadvantaged.  This provision would increase the number of students eligible for free public Prekindergarten and would therefore increase costs in the Foundation School Program.  Assuming that the provision would result in an increase in prekindergarten enrollment by about 75 students per year, costs to the Foundation School Program are not estimated to be significant.

The bill would be effective September 1, 2009 or earlier with the appropriate voting margins.

Local Government Impact

School districts would be required to provide free public prekindergarten to the children of eligible teachers and would receive Foundation School Program funding for those students.

Source Agencies:

701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, JSp, JGM, JSc