Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, Senate Committee on 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 1st 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. 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 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.