Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4064 by Meza (Relating to policies and procedures for addressing bullying and harassment in public schools.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB4064, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($622,385) 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
($307,569)
2023
($314,816)
2024
($485,945)
2025
($285,945)
2026
($485,945)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2021
2022
($307,569)
3.0
2023
($314,816)
3.0
2024
($485,945)
3.0
2025
($285,945)
3.0
2026
($485,945)
3.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to develop model guidance related to the prevention of bullying and harassment. The purpose of this model guidance would be to provide assistance to school districts as they update policies and procedures related to bullying and harassment, requirements for which would also be updated by the bill. The bill would require TEA to hire a safe school specialist to assist school districts with the implementation of the bullying and harassment prevention standards. The bill would also require TEA to monitor school district compliance as it relates to bullying and harassment and publish a biannual report containing statistics on bullying and harassment. If a school district is to be out of compliance with state standards related to bullying and harassment, the agency would be required to conduct an investigation and issue guidance for the school district to come into compliance. Failure to achieve compliance would subject the school district to sanctions.
Methodology
According to TEA, the agency would require 3.0 FTEs to implement the bill. The agency would be required to add two Investigator VI positions and one Program Specialist VI to accommodate the increase in investigations that is expected to occur as a result of the new scope of jurisdiction established by the bill. Costs associated with these FTEs, including salaries, benefits, and other operating expenses, would total $297,245 in fiscal year 2022 and $285,945 in fiscal year 2023. This analysis assumes that one of these FTEs would serve as the safe schools specialist that TEA would be required by the bill to hire.
The agency would require $200,000 every other year beginning in fiscal year 2024 in order to hire an external evaluator for the statistical report on bullying and harassment.
Technology
According to TEA, the cost to implement the requirements in the FSP application are $9,624 in FY 22 and $28,871 in FY 23.
Local Government Impact
Local Education Agencies would be required to update student codes of conduct and implement new policies and procedures related to bullying and harassment. LEAs will also need to report data to TEA to be used in the biannual report.