LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 21, 2013

TO:	Honorable Jimmie Don Aycock, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3003 by Allen (Relating to school district programs to assist students in making the transition back to school after certain prolonged placements outside of school.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require school districts to establish and provide a personalized plan to assist students with the transition back to school from certain disciplinary programs, hospitals, or residential treatment centers after a prolonged absence. The plan would include, if applicable, the best educational placement for the student; provision of counseling, behavioral management assistance, or other academic assistance; and assistance with access to community mental health or substance abuse services. The transition plan must take into consideration a student's medical or psychological condition and any educational, medical, or other treatments that student may have received in a facility. A school employee would request the parental consent necessary to obtain the information needed for this subsection. 

The bill would require a facility under this section to provide the school district with notice of the date the student intends to return to school after their release date. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) would be required to provide annual written notice to each facility of this requirement. This subsection would only apply to a student subject to compulsory attendance.

Based on the analysis of TEA and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the provisions of the bill would have no significant fiscal impact.

Local Government Impact

There would be some administrative costs to school districts to develop individualized transition assistance plans for students who were absent from school for 30 or more instructional days. These costs would vary depending on the size of the school district and the number of students who would qualify for provision of the plan.

Source Agencies:

644 Texas Juvenile Justice Department, 701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

UP, JBi, JSc