Honorable Dan Huberty, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1540 by Rodriguez, Justin (Relating to counseling regarding postsecondary education for public high school students.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Education Code to add a new requirement related to the information that counselors must provide to high school students about postsecondary education. Specifically, the bill would require counselors to advise students on the importance of selecting a major or field of study before, or as soon as possible after, enrolling in a postsecondary institution. Counselors must also inform students about the potential consequences of delaying that decision, particularly if the student plans to transfer to another postsecondary institution at a later date.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of members of each chamber of the legislature, or otherwise on September 1, 2017.
Based on information provided by the Texas Education Agency, it is assumed that the fiscal implication of the bill would be minimal, and that all duties and responsibilities associated with the legislation could be accomplished with existing staff and resources.
Local Government Impact
The bill could result in some local costs to school districts and charter schools to train counselors and to create, publish, and distribute new materials that include the required information about selecting a major or field of study. However, since the Education Code already requires counselors to provide information to Texas high schoolers on postsecondary education, it is anticipated that the costs would be minimal and could be accomplished within existing staff and resources.