LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 86TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 3, 2019

TO:
Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
 
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director     Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director
Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB2431 by Taylor (Relating to the creation of a committee to recommend a framework to incorporate digital teaching and learning in public schools.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2431, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($411,928) 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 ($238,714)
2021 ($173,214)
2022 $0
2023 $0
2024 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
General Revenue Fund
1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020 ($238,714) 1.0
2021 ($173,214) 1.0
2022 $0 0.0
2023 $0 0.0
2024 $0 0.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would establish a fifteen member commission to make recommendations for incorporating digital teaching and learning in public schools. Members of the commission would be entitled to reimbursement for expenses related to the commission's duties. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) would provide administrative support for the commission.

The commission would be required to develop various recommendations related to digital teaching and learning in elementary and secondary schools and deliver a report to the Governor and Legislature by September 1, 2020. The commission would be abolished on January 1, 2021.

The bill would take immediate effect if it receives a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature. Otherwise, the bill would take effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.

Methodology

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) estimates that one additional FTE would be required to support the commission's work. This analysis assumes that costs associated with that position, including salaries, benefits, and other operating expenses would total $102,214 in fiscal year 2020 and $98,214 in fiscal year 2021, with no additional costs in subsequent fiscal years.

TEA estimates that expense reimbursements for commission members would total $46,500 in fiscal year 2020. The agency estimates that costs associated with streaming and archiving the commission's public meetings would total $15,000 in fiscal year 2020. This analysis assumes that the cost to hire an external vendor to assist with development of the report would total $75,000 in each fiscal year of the 2020-21 biennium.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
701 Texas Education Agency
LBB Staff:
WP, HL, AM, THo