LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 12, 2009

TO:	Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB2248 by Zaffirini (Relating to public school students placed in foster care.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Texas Education Agency to establish procedures and provide for services to aid in the transition between school districts of a student placed in foster care.  The bill would include students in foster care on the list of students eligible to enroll full time in the Virtual School Network. Procedures are already in place to address certain provisions of the bill such as assurance of timely records transfer and timely completion of special education evaluations that may be in process at the time of the transition.  The agency anticipates is would require 1.0 additional FTE to present annual workshops to districts regarding strategies for easing transitions for students in foster care.  Costs are not estimated to be significant.

Local Government Impact

School districts receiving foster care students may incur some administrative costs to ensure compliance with the provisions of this bill. Costs would vary from school district to school district depending on the number of foster care students and the frequency of transfer by foster care students in or out of the school district.
 
School districts would be required to pay for Virtual School Network courses, and a student in foster care could take several courses if the student were enrolled as a full-time virtual student. Costs would vary.

Source Agencies:

530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, JSp, JGM, JSc