Honorable Dade Phelan, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2681 by Wilson (Relating to public school elective courses providing academic study of the Bible offered to certain students.), As Passed 2nd House
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2681, As Passed 2nd House : a negative impact of ($301,480) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2022
($51,480)
2023
($250,000)
2024
$0
2025
$0
2026
$0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2022
($51,480)
2023
($250,000)
2024
$0
2025
$0
2026
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill's provisions would amend the beginning grade level for Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament elective courses from grade nine to grade six and adjust teacher certification requirements accordingly.
Methodology
There will be costs to the state for the State Board of Education to adopt essential knowledge and skills (TEKS) for use in grades six, seven and eight. These costs would include convening a work group of educators to make recommendations for TEKS in grades six, seven, and eight. It is anticipated that the Texas Education Agency would need to convene a committee of approximately 18 individuals to attend four two-day face-to-face meetings. The cost to convene committees is an estimated $51,480 in fiscal year 2022.
Additionally, there would be costs to the state to develop training for teachers who teach these courses. It is anticipated that the cost to develop content and publish an online training course would cost approximately $250,000 in FY 2023.
Local Government Impact
There would likely be costs to districts that will make the courses available to middle school students to purchase instructional materials appropriate for middle school grades. Additionally, there would likely be costs to districts to train teachers to provide instruction in the courses.