| TO: | Honorable Patrick M. Rose, Chair, House Committee on Human Services |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB493 by Nelson (Relating to benefits and services for children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted |
The bill increases the number of Department of Family Protective Services conservatorship children who would be eligible for the education tuition waiver to include those who are adopted at any age and those who have permanent managing conservatorship (PMC) given or transferred to someone other than the parent if the date is on or before September 1, 2009. The bill also extends the deadline for entry into a higher education institution from 21 to 25.
There is currently an exemption program for students once in foster care. Based on information provided by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, in fiscal year 2008 a total of 2,030 students received exemptions totaling $4,134,826. The majority of the students attended public community college (68%) where the average award was $1,001 and public universities (27%) where the average award was $4,647 per year.
Based on information provided by the Higher Education Coordinating Board is it estimated the new exemption provisions would result in institutions forgoing tuition and fees of $9,807 in fiscal year 2010 and $42,054 in fiscal year 2011. The amounts would increase in the out years as more students used the exemption.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: | 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 701 Central Education Agency, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
|
| LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, PP, GO, NM
|