Honorable Brandon Creighton, Chair, Senate Committee on Education K-16
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1962 by Bettencourt (Relating to public school accountability and actions and other proceedings challenging the operations of the public school system.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1962, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($11,605,399) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
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
2026
($5,784,436)
2027
($5,820,963)
2028
($5,721,578)
2029
($5,721,578)
2030
($5,721,578)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2025
2026
($5,784,436)
6.0
2027
($5,820,963)
6.0
2028
($5,721,578)
6.0
2029
($5,721,578)
6.0
2030
($5,721,578)
6.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to establish a grant program with the capacity to assist at least one school district per education service center region in developing a local accountability system with certain requirements.
The bill would amend the commissioner's duties related to College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) indicators. The bill would require the commissioner to modify indicators, collect certain data on military-related testing and actions, and to study and report on the results.
The bill would allow the commissioner to take authorized actions against a school district that initiates or maintains an action or proceeding against the state or an agency or officer of the state. The bill would also require certain sanctions and interventions for these school districts.
The bill would clarify that certain appeals of TEA or commissioner actions could be made to a Travis County district court. The bill would also amend eligibility of certain proceedings eligible for a special three-judge district court panel to include challenges to the implementation of a public school accountability system.
Methodology
TEA assumes an annual cost of $5.0 million in grants to schools for the local accountability grant program.
The analysis assumes that TEA would require an additional 6.0 FTEs to implement provisions of the bill at a cost of $0.8 million in fiscal year 2026 and $0.7 million in subsequent fiscal years.
The costs to the state judicial system could not be determined as the volume and complexity of the potential legal proceedings that could result from provisions of the bill are unknown.
Technology
TEA assumes IT costs to implement the provisions of the bill would total $0.1 million for the biennium.
Local Government Impact
Based on information provided by TEA, this analysis assumes certain school districts may incur costs for imposed interventions or sanctions, with estimated monthly conservator costs between $2,500 and $8,000.