Honorable Jimmie Don Aycock, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3746 by Bohac (relating to the study of public education performance.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3746, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($840,600) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.
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
2016
($420,300)
2017
($420,300)
2018
($420,300)
2019
($420,300)
2020
($420,300)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2015
2016
($420,300)
6.0
2017
($420,300)
6.0
2018
($420,300)
6.0
2019
($420,300)
6.0
2020
($420,300)
6.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Education Code related to the study of public education performance. The bill would create the Center for Education Performance and Learning (Center) as an independent policy entity and the seven member Center for Education Performance and Learning Board (Board) as the primary policy-making body of the center. Board members would not receive a salary, but would be reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending board meetings.
The bill specifies the Center duties and Board reporting requirements. The bill directs the Board to issue an RFP to select a location at a public or private institution of higher education for the Center. The bill would allow the Center to contract with independent experts, academic scholars, and other appropriate professionals.
The bill would direct state agencies, regional education service centers, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools to fully cooperate with and assist the center at the board's request. Data would be required to be provided to the center at the board's request in a timely manner and at minimal cost.
The bill would allow the center to be funded by donations, grants, and legislative appropriations.
Methodology
The bill is expected to result in a cost of $420,300 in fiscal year 2016 and each subsequent year.
The annual cost is based on estimated 2014 expenditures of $400,000 for The Education Research Center, affiliated with the College of Education and Human Development at the Texas A&M University, which has a similar mission to the proposed Center. The Education Research Center has a staff of 6 FTEs.
Seven board members would be reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending board meetings. An average of $725 per meeting per member was estimated, based on two day meetings and average in state mileage or airfare, hotel costs, and meals and incidentals. This analysis assumes four meetings per year, and generating a cost of $20,300 per year.
Local Government Impact
School districts and open-enrollment charter schools would be required to fully cooperate with and assist the center at the board's request. Data would be required to be provided to the center at the board's request in a timely manner and at minimal cost. However, the bill is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools.
Source Agencies:
701 Central Education Agency, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 783 University of Houston System Administration