Honorable Dan Huberty, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1398 by Lucio (Relating to the placement and use of video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms or other settings providing special education services.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Education Code related to the placement and use of video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms or other settings providing special education services and would require the placement, operation, and maintenance of a video camera in a self-contained classroom or other special education setting during the regular school year and extended school year services. The bill would take effect immediately if passed within necessary voting margins, or September 1, 2017.
The Texas Education Agency indicates any costs associated with the provisions of the bill can be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) indicates that local educational agencies (LEAs) could incur some costs associated with certain bill requirements; however, the bill's overall fiscal impact for LEAs is expected to be a significant cost savings.
TEA estimates that video cameras will be installed, operated, and maintained during regular school years, approximately nine months out of a year. The costs to districts who have extended year classes in the same class rooms as their regular school year classroom should experience minimal additional costs. However, if districts are offering extended year classes in different classrooms than regular school classrooms, and valid requests for camera installation are made, the school district may experience the costs associated with new installation, maintenance and operation.
TEA estimates a significant decrease in local cost related to the requirements that a parent's or staff member's written request applies only to the classroom(s) in which the parent's student attends class or in which the staff member is assigned, and that a school or campus that receives equipment, as a result of a request, must place it only in the classrooms or settings identified by the requestor. According to TEA, the reduction in cost related to these requirements would vary depending on the size of the district, the number of classrooms meeting the applicable provisions, and the costs already incurred by the LEA related to the placement of video cameras.
TEA estimates varying costs related to the requirements that LEAs begin operation of a video camera not later than the 45th calendar day after the request is received, and place cameras in all areas of the classroom or other special education setting to include a room attached to the classroom or setting used for time-out. Costs to LEAs will vary based on existing policies, procedures, and contracts.
Further, TEA estimates nominal costs to LEA related to the requirements to provide certain notifications and adopt procedures relating to the placement, operation and maintenance of video cameras and assign a designee.