Honorable Dan Huberty, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2991 by Talarico (Relating to the use of disciplinary alternatives to suspension by a school district and the creation of the restorative justice coordinating council.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2991, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($628,797) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
($216,401)
2021
($412,396)
2022
($112,394)
2023
($112,394)
2024
($112,394)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($216,401)
1.0
2021
($412,396)
1.0
2022
($112,394)
1.0
2023
($112,394)
1.0
2024
($112,394)
1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Education Code to require school districts and charter schools to develop and implement an alternative to suspension program that includes restorative justice practices as a behavior management strategy.
The bill would establish the Restorative Justice Coordinating Council and would require the Council to develop and maintain a database of restorative justice programs used by schools. The Council would be required to report on activities and recommendations for legislative action biennially to the Governor and Legislature.
Methodology
This analysis assumes the Texas Education Agency (TEA) would require 1.0 Program Specialist VII to coordinate the work of the Council, coordinate with districts and charters regarding information submitted to the database, develop the scope of work and manage the contract for database development, maintain the database, and prepare the required report. This analysis assumes the FTE would cost of $116,394 in fiscal year 2020 and $112,394 per year thereafter for salary, benefits, and other operating costs.
TEA assumes costs to develop the database would total $100,007 in fiscal year 2020 and $300,022 in fiscal year 2022.
The Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Criminal Justice, and Office of Court Administration assume the provisions of the bill could be implemented using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
TEA assumes there would be costs to local education agencies to implement a restorative justice program.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 644 Juvenile Justice Department, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 701 Texas Education Agency