Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1313 by Villalba (Relating to the establishment of school marshal grant programs by the criminal justice division of the governor's office and the adoption of a school marshals promotion program.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1313, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,486,800) 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
($1,419,600)
2019
($67,200)
2020
($907,200)
2021
($67,200)
2022
($907,200)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2018
($1,419,600)
2019
($67,200)
2020
($907,200)
2021
($67,200)
2022
($907,200)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to establish the School Marshal Support grant program to award school districts or open-enrollment charter schools grant funding to appoint, train, and provide equipment to school marshals, and the School Marshal Notice grant program to award school districts or open-enrollment charter schools grant funding to pay the costs of posting signage or notice on a campus at which a school marshal is an employee. The bill would require the Criminal Justice Division at the Office of the Governor to award grants to eligible districts and charters until the funds appropriated for that purpose are expended.
The bill would amend the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to establish a School Marshal Promotion program to notify school districts and open-enrollment charters schools about the authority under the Education Code to appoint school marshals, and provide information about the benefits of school marshals and the grant programs, and encourage schools to appoint school marshals. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2017.
Methodology
Providing school marshal grants to public schools as specified in the bill would result in a cost of approximately $1.4 million in fiscal year 2018 due initial equipment and training costs and $67,200 in fiscal year 2019 due to equipment costs. Costs in subsequent years would total $907,200 in fiscal years 2020 and 2022 due to training costs, with costs in fiscal year 2021 totaling $67,200.
According to the Texas Education Agency, approximately 5,700 campuses have 400 or more students and would qualify to have a school marshal in accordance with Education Code §37.0811(a). Based on the number of school districts that have applied for grants in the past, the Office of the Governor estimates the Criminal Justice Division (CJD) would receive applications from and award grants to 120 school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. Assuming that each district and charter requested a school marshal for 7 campuses, the Office of the Governor anticipates requests for 840 school marshals (120 districts x 7 campuses with marshals) through the School Marshal Support grant.
As specified in the bill, grant awards under the School Marshal Support grant would provide funding for training and equipment. The Office of the Governor estimates average training costs of $1,000 per school marshal based on the cost of training established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Training would be provided to eligible school marshals every other year due to licensing provisions resulting in costs of $840,000 (840 school marshals x $1,000 per marshal) in fiscal years 2018, 2020, and 2022. Related to equipment reimbursements, the Office of the Governor anticipates one-time costs associated with the purchase of handguns for each school marshal, totaling $504,000 ($600 per handgun x 840 school marshals) in fiscal year 2018. The Office of the Governor further estimates costs of $67,200 each fiscal year related to reimbursement for ammunition.
As specified by the bill, grant awards under the School Marshal Notice grant would pay the costs of posting signage or notice on a campus at which a school marshal is an employee. The Office of the Governor estimates that two signs will be posted at each of the campuses associated with the grant. Assuming costs of $5 per sign, cost would total $8,400 ($5 per sign x 2 signs x 840 campuses) in fiscal year 2018.
This analysis estimates the Office of the Governor could absorb the administrative costs associated with implementing the grants.
Local Government Impact
The Office of the Governor estimates participating school districts and open-enrollment charter schools participating in the grant programs would likely incur savings resulting from participation due to decreased training and equipment costs at the local level.
Source Agencies:
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 407 Commission on Law Enforcement, 701 Texas Education Agency