Honorable Dan Patrick, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1062 by West (Relating to transportation of a student entitled to a public education grant.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1062, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,196,597) through the biennium ending August 31, 2015.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2014
($723,517)
2015
($1,473,080)
2016
($2,249,393)
2017
($3,053,176)
2018
($3,885,167)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Foundation School Fund 193
2014
($723,517)
2015
($1,473,080)
2016
($2,249,393)
2017
($3,053,176)
2018
($3,885,167)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require school districts to provide transportation to students exercising the option to attend a school outside their district of residence under the provisions of the Public Education Grant (PEG). The bill would entitle the school district to reimbursement for transporting these students at a rate equal to the rate established in the Education Code for transporting career and technology education students per mile traveled.
The bill references repealing section 29.203(f) of the Transportation Code. For purposes of this estimate, it is assumed that it would repeal section 29.203(f) of the Education Code, relating to transportion of students participating in the PEG program.
Methodology
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) indicates that 299,607 students are enrolled in campuses identified under the PEG program in FY2013. For purposes of this estimate, it is assumed that 1 percent of those students would choose to attend an alternate campus in FY2014 and an additional 1 percent would choose to attend an alternate campus through the PEG program in each subsequent year, up to 5 percent by FY2018. Based on the average Foundation School Program transportation allotment amount per student adjusted for the current cost for CTE transportation of $3.16 per mile and assuming 1.8 percent annual enrollment growth, TEA estimates the cost for reimbursing school districts for PEG-related transportation at $723,517 in FY2014 and $1,473,080 in FY2015 from General Revenue Funds , increasing to $3,885,167 by FY 018.
Local Government Impact
School districts would be required to provide transportation services to all students participating in the PEG program and would be entitled to reimbursement from the state equal to the rate for transporting CTE students per mile traveled for this purpose.