COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.:4667H.02C Bill No.:HCS for HB 2150 Subject:Education, Elementary and Secondary; Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education; Disabilities
Type:Original Date:March 22, 2022Bill Summary:This proposal establishes the "BRITE" act governing braille instruction.
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUNDFUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025
General Revenue
($20,600)($20,600)($20,600)
Total Estimated Net
Effect on General
Revenue($20,600)($20,600)($20,600)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025Total Estimated Net
Effect on Other State
Funds $0$0$0
Numbers within parentheses: () indicate costs or losses. L.R. No. 4667H.02C
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ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025Total Estimated Net
Effect on All Federal
Funds $0$0$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)FUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025Total Estimated Net
Effect on FTE 000
☐ Estimated Net Effect (expenditures or reduced revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any
of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
☐ Estimated Net Effect (savings or increased revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of
the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025Local Government$0 or (Unknown)$0 or (Unknown)$0 or (Unknown) L.R. No. 4667H.02C
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FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Section 167.225 BRITE Act
Officials from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education state the Missouri
School for the Blind already provides many of the services required in this legislation with the
exception of orientation and mobility evaluations at the home and paying for eye exams. To
implement this legislation, the Department estimates the following costs per year:
The orientation and mobility evaluations described in paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall
occur in familiar and unfamiliar environments and around the home, school, and community as
determined age appropriate by the blind students IEP.
40 students X 500 miles X .43 mileage rate = $8,600
If an LEA requires an eye report, the LEA shall bear all costs associated with obtaining such
report. LEAs shall not delay an evaluation for eligibility based on the absence or delay of such
report.
40 students X $300 eye exam = $12,000
Total Cost = $20,600
In response to the previous version, officials from the Department of Social Services assumed
the proposal would have no fiscal impact on their organization. Oversight does not have any
information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for
this agency.
Oversight assumes this proposal could result in additional costs to school districts if it imposes
duties beyond those that school districts are already performing. Oversight will show a range of
impact to school districts of $0 (no additional costs or can be absorbed) to an unknown cost.
Oversight did not receive any responses from school districts related to the fiscal impact of this
proposal. Oversight has presented this fiscal note on the best current information available. Upon
the receipt of additional responses, Oversight will review to determine if an updated fiscal note
should be prepared and seek the necessary approval to publish a new fiscal note.
Oversight only reflects the responses received from state agencies and political subdivisions;
however, other school districts were requested to respond to this proposed legislation but did not. L.R. No. 4667H.02C
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A listing of political subdivisions included in the Missouri Legislative Information System
(MOLIS) database is available upon request.
FISCAL IMPACT – State GovernmentFY 2023
(10 Mo.)
FY 2024FY 2025GENERAL REVENUECosts - orientation and mobility
evaluations and eye reports - §167.225($20,600)($20,600)($20,600)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON
GENERAL REVENUE($20,600)($20,600)($20,600)
FISCAL IMPACT – Local GovernmentFY 2023
(10 Mo.)
FY 2024FY 2025SCHOOL DISTRICTSCosts - orientation and mobility
evaluations and instruction, eye reports,
duplicative accessible assistive
technology - §167.225
$0 or
(Unknown)
$0 or
(Unknown)
$0 or
(Unknown)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
$0 or
(Unknown)
$0 or
(Unknown)
$0 or
(Unknown)
FISCAL IMPACT – Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
FISCAL DESCRIPTION
This bill establishes the "Blind Students' Rights to Independence, Training, and Education Act"
or the "BRITE Act".
The bill provides definitions for "accessible assistive technology device", "adequate instruction",
and "nonvisual access and skills" among other definitions.
The bill requires blind children to have an Individualized Education Plan, (IEP) that shall specify
results obtained from evaluations on reading and writing skills, and should include the need for
instruction in Braille or the use of Braille. All instruction in Braille reading and writing shall be L.R. No. 4667H.02C
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sufficient to allow a student to effectively and efficiently communicate at an appropriate age
level.
The bill includes additional guidance for the instruction of Braille and the use of nonvisual
accessible assistive technology. The bill provides direction to school districts regarding
accessible assistive technology and requires a school district to provide duplicative accessible
assistive technology to be used in a blind student's home without requiring payment or family
assumption of liability for loss or damage.
The bill requires districts to perform an orientation and mobility evaluation to be conducted by
certified individuals and provides guidance on the instruction for orientation and mobility, and
districts may not limit a student’s instruction in the home, school, or community and provide
transportation in the preferred mode of the instructor.
The bill requires educators hired to teach Braille, accessible assistive technology, and orientation
and mobility, to hold a valid certificate as outlined in the bill. The bill requires school districts to
comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) even during declared
emergencies, to bear the cost of any required eye report, and to develop nonvisual accessibility
policies to reduce or eliminate common barriers for blind individuals
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not
require additional capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Social Services
Julie MorffRoss StropeDirectorAssistant DirectorMarch 22, 2022March 22, 2022