LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 264 HLS 24RS 416
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 15, 2024 6:45 PM Author: HUGHES
Dept./Agy.: EDUCATION/ HIGHER EDUCATION
Subject: Computer Science Education Advancement Act Analyst: Julie Silva
CURRICULA EN INCREASE GF EX See Note Page 1 of 2
Adds computer science as a high school graduation requirement and requires teacher preparation programs to include
computer science education
Proposed legislation requires each public high school to provide computer science instruction to its students and that each public high
school student successfully complete a one credit Computer Science course as a requirement for high school graduation. Additionally adds
this requirement to qualification for TOPS and TOPS-Tech awards.
Proposed legislation further requires each public school with students in grades six through eight provide instruction in exploratory
computer science to its students, and each public elementary school provide instruction in the basics of computer science and
computational thinking.
Additionally requires teacher preparation programs under the authority of the management boards of the University of Louisiana System,
the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College include instruction on teaching students computer science.
EXPENDITURES 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $45,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $105,000
Agy. Self-Gen. SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total
REVENUES 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
Proposed legislation is expected to result in an increase in state expenditures. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) reports they
will need to initiate a professional services contract with five (5) Teacher Leader Advisors (TLAs) to serve as content review experts at
each grade band and to develop materials aligned with Louisiana Computer Science Standards. These contracts are estimated to cost
$9,000 per TLA in FY 26, and $4,000 per TLA in FY 27 and beyond in order to continue reviewing and updating required course materials.
LDOE reports updates to graduation requirements can be completed by existing staff.
LDOE’s current computer science budget supports professional development, teacher certification, and technical assistance grants to
expand capacity to offer computer science education across the state; however, additional funding to meet the requirements of proposed
legislation was not contemplated during the department’s FY 25 budget development process. Proposed legislation requires a phase-in of
these requirements, beginning prior to the 2026-27 school year in order to be effective for public and charter students entering the ninth
grade that year. As a result, LDOE reports needing an additional appropriation of $45,000 to hire TLAs to begin the work of vetting course
materials in FY 26 and to provide more time for teacher training. DOE reports funding can be requested during the FY 26 budget process.
TLA work can begin as soon as computer science content standards are approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE).
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid (LOSFA) reports the addition of a required unit of computer science to the TOPS core
curriculum does not change the total required number of units in each core curriculum. These changes would apply to students entering
the ninth grade during the 2026-27 school year (expected to graduate during the 2029-30 school year). There would be a minimal impact
on expenditures based on the nominal cost of rulemaking required by LOSFA due to this legislation. Per LOSFA's agreement with LDOE
regarding Student Transcript System (STS) data, LDOE determines whether a student has met core and calculates the GPA. LOSFA staff
works with LDOE programmers to ensure that the core reference tables reflect current law and rule; the system then uses those tables to
determine core completion and GPA on those courses.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
REVENUE EXPLANATION
There is no anticipated direct material effect on governmental revenues as a result of this measure.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee Patrice Thomas
6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Deputy Fiscal Officer
 LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 264 HLS 24RS 416
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 15, 2024 6:45 PM Author: HUGHES
Dept./Agy.: EDUCATION/ HIGHER EDUCATION
Subject: Computer Science Education Advancement Act Analyst: Julie Silva
CONTINUED EXPLANATION from page one: Page 2 of 2
Proposed legislation permits universities to incorporate computer science instruction into existing courses of study as
opposed to necessitating changes to current teacher preparation credit hour requirements. The information below was provided
in response to the original version of proposed legislation, prior to the adoption of an amendment by the House Committee on Education
on 3/27/24 which added language clarifying that proposed legislation does not necessitate the addition of new coursework and related
changes to program degree requirements. The below cost estimates remain in this note for illustrative purposes only. As a result
of the adopted amendments, the LFO is unable to corroborate any of the expenditures included will be necessary. Additional
information has been requested from the impacted university systems and this fiscal note will be updated as it becomes
available.
Louisiana State University (LSU) System
LSU Alexandria and LSU Shreveport report they will experience no increase in expenditures as their teacher preparation programs already
include instruction on teaching students computer science. LSU Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) reports the university will experience
fiscal impacts to hire one additional faculty member with a salary of $70,000 plus benefits to maintain instructor numbers in relation to
course enrollment.
Southern University (SU) System
SU A&M and SU New Orleans each report that in order to ensure students in their teacher preparation programs meet the computer
science requirements in proposed legislation, the campuses will need to hire additional professors/instructors with expertise in the course.
SU Baton Rouge will need two instructors, and SU New Orleans will need one. Funding will also be necessary for each campus to purchase
materials and resources for the course. The total estimated cost provided by the SU System to comply with the requirements in proposed
legislation is $206,000, which will be allocated to campuses as follows:
SU A&M - $136,900 ($134,400 personnel costs and $2,500 operating expenses)
SU New Orleans - $67,200 ($48,000 personnel costs and $2,500 operating expenses)
University of Louisiana System (UL)
The UL system reported that three of its universities will require additional employees to ensure their teacher preparation programs are in
compliance with the requirements in proposed legislation. An additional five universities in the UL System reported they expect little to no
impact to expenditures as a result of proposed legislation.
Grambling State University - $262,000 for two (2) positions at an annual cost of $91,000 each ($65,000 salary and $26,000 related
benefits) and the purchase of equipment and laboratory space, estimated to cost an additional $80,000
UL Monroe - $127,000 for one (1) faculty position at a cost of $112,000 ($80,000 salary and $32,000 related benefits) and an additional
$15,000 for procurement costs.
McNeese State University - $203,208 for two (2) faculty positions - one (1) in Computer Science at an annual cost of $111,238 ($75,000
salary and $36,238 related benefits) and one (1) in Education at an annual cost of $91,970 ($60,000 salary and $31,970 related benefits).
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee Patrice Thomas
6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Deputy Fiscal Officer


Statutes affected:
HB264 Original: 17:3(B)(2), 17:5025(2), 17:5026(A)(2)
HB264 Engrossed: 17:3(B)(2), 17:5025(2), 17:5026(A)(2)
HB264 Reengrossed: 17:3(B)(2), 17:5025(2), 17:5026(A)(2)
HB264 Enrolled: 17:3(B)(2), 17:5025(2), 17:5026(A)(2)
HB264 Act : 17:3(B)(2), 17:5025(2), 17:5026(A)(2)