LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 12, 2009

TO:
Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Senate Committee on Higher Education
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3951 by Turner, Chris (Relating to requiring a public institution of higher education to designate or employ a person trained in student financial assistance programs for military veterans and their families.), As Engrossed



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3951, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($406,528) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010 ($202,804)
2011 ($203,724)
2012 ($204,672)
2013 ($205,649)
2014 ($206,654)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
General Revenue Fund
1
2010 ($202,804)
2011 ($203,724)
2012 ($204,672)
2013 ($205,649)
2014 ($206,654)



Fiscal Year Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009
2010 3.0
2011 3.0
2012 3.0
2013 3.0
2014 3.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill requires a public institution of higher education to designate or employ a person trained in student financial assistance programs for military veterans and their families.  Under provisions of the bill, the legislature shall ensure that each institution receives adequate funding to cover the additional costs attributable to the requirements of this section and may appropriate money for that purpose.

Methodology

Since the bill indicates the legislature shall ensure that each institution will receive adequate funding to cover the costs associated with implementing the bill, for purposes of this fiscal note it is assumed these costs will be covered by the State as opposed to the higher education institutions. While several higher education system offices indicated their compenent institutions currently have personnel in the university's admission or financial aid offices addressing a lot of the requirements of the legislation, other system offices indicated their components would need to hire additional FTEs to implement the provisions of the bill.  The University of Texas System indicated that three of their component institutions, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas at Pan American and the University of Texas at Tyler would each need to hire an additional financial aid officer. The total costs for the FTEs, including salaries and benefits, is $118,804 in fiscal year 2010 increasing to $122,654 by fiscal year 2014. The University of Houston System has indicated the costs associated with the bill for thier institutions would be approximately $84,000 per year.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 783 University of Houston System Administration
LBB Staff:
JOB, KK, RT, GO