LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 5, 2009

TO:	Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1801 by Zaffirini (Relating to orientation programs for new students at public institutions of higher education.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Under provisions of the bill, institutions of higher education are required to provide an orientation program for each student, including a student transferring to the institution, before or during the first
semester or other academic term in which the student is enrolled at the institution. The orientation must include counseling about the degree and professional programs offered by the institution, the student's post-graduation goals (including career planning and graduate school), and transferring to a four-year institution if the institution offers only lower-division courses.

In addition, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is required to provide online resources to assist an institution of higher education in the development and implementation of an orientation 
program, focusing on programs that have proven successful in improving the retention of students at institutions of higher education.

It is assumed for purposes of this fiscal note that provisions of the bill could be implemented within existing resources.

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, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board

LBB Staff:

JOB, KK, RT, SSh