Honorable Briscoe Cain, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3080 by Oliverson (Relating to unsolicited provision of an application form for a ballot to be voted by mail and to procedures for verification of a ballot voted by mail; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
This bill would amend the Election Code related to early voting by mail. The bill would require the Secretary of State (SOS) to obtain digital fingerprints from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and to establish certain procedures related to the verification of these votes using those prints. The bill would also establish a criminal offense for a person to mail another person an unsolicited mail ballot application.
According to the SOS, the bill would require enhancements to the agency's existing voter registration system as well as additional storage expenses; however, these costs could be absorbed within existing resources.
According to DPS, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated to the agency.
Local Government Impact
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.
The Election Administrators for Aransas, Brazos, and Tarrant counties anticipate a fiscal impact, requiring the purchase of thumbprint kits, postage, and the printing of additional instructions for voters. The exact impact cannot be determined at this time.
Source Agencies:
307 Secretary of State, 405 Department of Public Safety