| TO: | Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3940 by Villarreal (relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain employees of the legislative branch.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2010 | ($17,710) |
| 2011 | ($428,131) |
| 2012 | ($595,957) |
| 2013 | ($796,957) |
| 2014 | ($1,016,957) |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | ($17,710) |
| 2011 | ($428,131) |
| 2012 | ($595,957) |
| 2013 | ($796,957) |
| 2014 | ($1,016,957) |
| Fiscal Year | Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | 1.0 |
| 2012 | 1.0 |
| 2013 | 1.0 |
| 2014 | 1.0 |
The bill would create a loan repayment assistance program for certain employees of the legislative branch administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board. Legislative employees would include employees of the senate and the house of representatives, as well as other legislative branches of state government. Employees of an individual senator or representative, or of a legislative committee would be included, but not senators or representatives.
The bill sets out certain criteria to receive loan repayment assistance as well as exceptions to the consecutive years of employment requirement. Under provisions of the bill, an eligible person can receive loan repayment assistance for up to five years. The board may provide repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for education at an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education in this state, including loans for undergraduate education, received by an eligible person through any lender. The total amount of repayment assistance distributed by the Board could not exceed the total amount of gifts and grants accepted by the board for repayment assistance, legislative appropriations for repayment assistance, and other funds available to the board for purposes of the program.
The fiscal note will be split out between administrative costs and estimates on the loan repayment awards associated with the program.
Administrative Costs
The Higher Education Coordinating Board has indicated that the only costs in fiscal year 2010 are $17,710 in technology costs for establishing the new program. In fiscal year 2011, they have indicated that they would need to hire one FTE, an administrative specialist, to implement the loan program. The total costs for this FTE, including salaries and benefits is $68,131 in fiscal year 2011 and $56,958 in fiscal year 2012 and subsequent years.
Loan Repayment Awards
The Higher Education Coordinating Board indicates the first cohort of applicants will receive loan repayment beginning in fiscal year 2011. Their estimate is based on graduated repayment award amounts to provide an incentive to hold legislative positions for five years as follows: $3,000 for 1st year, $4,000 for second year, $5,000 for third year, $6,000 for fourth year, and $7,000 for fifth year. They assumed that 120 legislative employees will receive loan repayment awards in the amount of $3,000 in fiscal year 2011. That same cohort will receive $4,000 awards in fiscal year 2012, plus an additional 20 new legislative employees receiving $3,000 awards. In fiscal year 2013, 120 third-year employees will receive $5,000, 20 second-year employees will receive $4,000, and 20 new employees will receive $3,000. In fiscal year 2014, 120 fourth-year employees will receive $6,000, while 20 third-year employees will receive $5,000, 20 second-year employees will receive $4,000, and 20 new employees will receive $3,000 in loan repayments. Based on these assumptions, the cost to the state for the loan repayment awards would be $0 in fiscal year 2010, $360,000 in fiscal year 2011, $540,000 in fiscal year 2012, $740,000 in fiscal year 2013, and $960,000 in fiscal year 2014.
| Source Agencies: | 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KK, RT, GO
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