Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2755 by Branch (Relating to authorizing participation in state-funded student financial assistance programs by certain students of Western Governors University Texas or similar online nonprofit universities.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be estimated at this time, but there are probable general revenue costs associated with the bill in the range of $247,500 to $750,000 in each fiscal year from 2014-2018. Included below is information regarding these general revenue costs.
Under provisions of the bill, the Higher Education Coordinating Board would be required to allow students attending Western Governors University Texas or certain other online nonprofit universities to participate in state-funded financial assistance programs. It is unclear which financial aid programs would be available to these students but for purposes of this fiscal note it is assumed the students would participate in the TEXAS Grant program or the Texas Equalization Grant Program. The award amounts for those two programs in fiscal year 2012 were $5,000 and $3,300 respectively. Based on information provided by the Higher Education Coordinating Board approximately 300 students of the 3,8000 students attending Western Governors University Texas in fiscal year 2012 were under the age of 24. For purposes of this fiscal note it is assumed that 25% to 50% of the students under the age of 24 would participate in either the TEXAS Grant Program or the Tuition Equalization Program. Based on these assumptions, the range of costs would be $247,500 (for 75 students receiving a Tuition Equalization Grant award of $3,300) to $750,000 (for 150 students receiving a TEXAS Grant award of $5,000) each year.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.