Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2871 by González, Mary (relating to the establishment by The University of Texas at Austin of a program to promote computer science education capacity in this state.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2871, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted : a negative impact of ($5,000,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
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
2024
($2,500,000)
2025
($2,500,000)
2026
($2,500,000)
2027
($2,500,000)
2028
($2,500,000)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2024
($2,500,000)
2025
($2,500,000)
2026
($2,500,000)
2027
($2,500,000)
2028
($2,500,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill requires The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) to design, develop and implement a program to support and streamline computer science education and professional development for educators. Under provisions of the bill, UT Austin would use money appropriated, or otherwise available for the purpose, to support the Computer Science Education Capacity Promotion Program.
UT Austin would provide public primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education with access to evidence-based and accredited computer science professional development resources provided by institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, or other accredited providers.
Methodology
Based on information provided by The University of Texas System (System), the Computer Science Education Capacity Promotion Program would be operated through the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at UT Austin. TACC does not currently receive General Revenue support from the State. UT Austin indicates that $2.5 million in General Revenue in each year of the biennium would be used to provide K-12 public school teachers resources to obtain computer science teaching certification through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education and education resource centers. TACC would provide professional development in coding, computational thinking, cybersecurity, and computer science education. Funding would provide additional professional development for 300 educators in integrating computer science and 240 educators serving grades 9-12.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
720 The University of Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board