Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1509 by Creighton (Relating to identification requirements for early voting by mail; providing a penalty.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Election Code as it relates to the contents of an early voting ballot application by expanding the requirements for an application. Under the bill, a person would be subject to prosecution for the Class A misdemeanor offense of perjury or for the state jail felony offense of making a false statement on a declaration of reasonable impediment for a false statement or false information on an early voting ballot application. The bill would also add to the requirements that must be met for an early voting ballot to be accepted. Intentionally accepting a ballot for voting or causing a ballot to be accepted for voting that a person knows does not meet those requirements is a Class A misdemeanor.
This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources and that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, no significant fiscal implication to counties is anticipated.
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.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 307 Secretary of State, 405 Department of Public Safety