Honorable J. M. Lozano, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB17 by Lozano (Relating to the establishment of the Texas Higher Education Innovation Accelerator for public institutions of higher education.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB17, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($429,548) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
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
2018
($226,974)
2019
($202,574)
2020
($202,574)
2021
($202,574)
2022
($202,574)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2017
2018
($226,974)
3.0
2019
($202,574)
3.0
2020
($202,574)
3.0
2021
($202,574)
3.0
2022
($202,574)
3.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would establish the Texas Higher Education Innovation Accelerator for public institutions of higher education. Under provisions of the bill, the Commissioner of Higher Education, in consultation with institutions of higher education, would establish eligibility criteria for an institution of higher education's participation in the accelerator. The bill includes specific duties for the Commissioner of Higher Education and participating institutions in implementing the new program. The bill does not include information related to funding for the new program.
Methodology
Based on information provided by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the agency would require three additional FTEs to implement provisions of the bill. The total costs of these FTEs is $212,974 in fiscal year 2018 and $202,574 in fiscal year 2019 and subsequent years for salaries, benefits and other costs. The agency also reported travel costs of $14,400 in fiscal year 2018 only.
It is assumed that participating institutions would use institutional funds to implement the new program since the bill does not specify how the program would be funded.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration