NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.



Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.





F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Picraux DATE TYPED: 1-24-00 HB 75
SHORT TITLE: Violence Prevention Counseling Program SB
ANALYST: Baca


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01
$ 1,500.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



State Department of Education (SDE)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



The bill appropriates $1,500.0 to the State Department of Education for expenditure in FY01 for a competitive application program to improve the effectiveness of student counseling programs by lowering the counselor-to-student ratio 1:250.



Significant Issues



The provisions in the bill recognize that counselors currently provide services that can be used to prevent violence, but the high counselor-to-student ratio hampers the ability of the counselors to deal effectively with the many students they must advise. It is believed that lower the counselor-to-student ratio help prevent violence by providing adequate support to students.



The bill requires that SDE and funded school districts report the impact of the program to the LESC by November 2001.





FISCAL IMPACT



This bill appropriates $1,500.0 in general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2001 shall revert to the general fund.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



The SDE analysis indicates the agency can administer the program with existing staff.



LB/gm