LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: SB 205 SLS 23RS 347
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: June 7, 2023 10:44 AM Author: CORTEZ
Dept./Agy.: Higher Education/Statewide
Subject: Data Sharing - LA FIRST Analyst: Chris Henry
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EN INCREASE GF EX See Note Page 1 of 1
Creates the Louisiana Foundational Integrated Research System for Transformation (LA FIRST). (gov sig)
Proposed law creates Louisiana’s Foundational Integrated Research System for Transformation (LA FIRST) to be developed
and maintained by the Board of Regents at the Kathleen Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at
Lafayette (ULL). Requires each postsecondary management board, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Department of Children
and Family Services, Department of Corrections, Office of Juvenile Justice, Louisiana Department of Health, and Department
of Education and local school districts to enter into data sharing agreements with the Board of Regents, Office of Technology
Services, and the Blanco Policy Center. Requires LA FIRST to publish annual reports on K-12 to college or career transition,
employment outcomes, and causes and consequences of criminal and delinquent acts. Proposed law shall only be effective if
an appropriation of funds by the Legislature is made for its purpose.
Data sharing agreements must be executed by December 1, 2023.
EXPENDITURES 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE
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
REVENUES 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 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
There will be increased costs to implement the LA FIRST initiative at certain agencies below. For purposes of this fiscal note, the LFO
assumes these will be funded with SGF.
The Blanco Policy Center at ULL anticipates a need for fourteen (14) additional positions to initiate the LA FIRST program including a Data
Center Program Manager ($100,000 Salary, $45,600 Related Benefits), Administrative Staff ($60,000 Salary, $27,360 Related Benefits),
and 12 Research Staff ($70,000 Salary, $31,920). These staff would be responsible for the in-depth study of subject matter specific data,
leading the compilation of annual reports required by the legislation, and data visualization. Additional estimated needs include costs for
equipment at $50,000 in FY 24 for computers capable of processing the required quantities of data along with the associated software for
the data center staff. Equipment costs subsequently decrease to $10,000 in the ensuing years for maintenance. Recurring operating
expenses for software, data management services, and subscriptions are estimated at $100,000. The Office of Technology Services would
host the data and assist in the execution of data sharing agreements between agencies in the proposed legislation and the Blanco Policy
Center. These data services, host servers, and related equipment are estimated at $117,000 annually. The combined operational costs for
the Blanco Center to start LA FIRST are estimated at $1.72 M in FY 24, $1.71 M in FY 25, and $1.74 M in FY 26.
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) is bound by laws not to access student’s personal information and would need to pass all
data that is personally identifiable (Full Name, Date of Birth, Social Security Number) through its data warehouse vendor eScholar to
generate a unique state ID before data can be shared. These additional services are not in the current contract and could result in
additional costs to implement. If LDE is tasked with facilitating data sharing agreements between LA FIRST and the local school districts,
its System Support team would see a workload increase to ensure local districts comply with the data submissions.
Many departments report the proposed legislation will have minimal or an indeterminable impact on expenditures. The type and amount of
data requested to be shared as well as the transfer frequency is not specified in the legislation and will likely be determined with each data
sharing agreement. More complex agreements could result in added workloads and/or costs. The initial creation of reports stemming from
data sharing agreements that require work with external vendors, system programming, and/or testing could also result in one-time costs.
REVENUE EXPLANATION
There is no anticipated direct material effect on governmental revenues as a result of this measure.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
x 13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} x 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee Evan Brasseaux
6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Interim Deputy Fiscal Officer


Statutes affected:
SB205 Enrolled: 44:1(B)(9)
SB205 Act : 44:1(B)(9)