Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Youth Health & Safety, Select
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2976 by Guillen (Relating to an elective course on firearms safety for public high school students.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2976, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($455,551) 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
($432,338)
2025
($23,213)
2026
$0
2027
$0
2028
$0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2024
($432,338)
2025
($23,213)
2026
$0
2027
$0
2028
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the State Board of Education to develop a virtual course on firearms safety and make the course available free to the public through the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Department of Public Safety's websites. School districts and charter schools could offer an elective course on firearms safety based on curriculum guidelines developed by the State Board of Education (SBOE).
Methodology
TEA estimates the cost of developing the curriculum, identifying, and developing appropriate resources and materials, and building the firearms safety course to be approximately $400,000 in fiscal year 2024.
TEA assumes there would be costs to the state for the SBOE to adopt Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the new course. It is anticipated that TEA would need to convene a committee of approximately 10 individuals to attend three two-day face-to-face meetings to develop TEKS for the new course, for a total cost $24,600 in fiscal year 2024.
Technology
TEA estimates the costs to develop and implement the requirements in the Texas Student Data System would be $7,738 FY 24 and $23,213 in FY 25.
Local Government Impact
School districts with high school programs could offer the firearms safety course. However, no significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 701 Texas Education Agency, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department