LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 19, 1995 TO: Honorable Ken Armbrister, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 94 Committee on State Affairs By: Ellis Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 94 (Relating to the regulation of political contributions, political expenditures, and political advertising in connection with certain judicial candidates and officeholders, to personal financial statements filed by certain judicial officeholders, and to certain appointments made by trial judges; providing civil and criminal penalties.) this office has determined the following: The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill would amend the Election Code, which would affect the filing requirements of judicial candidates and officeholders, by requiring them to file with both the Ethics Commission and the clerk of the court for which office is sought. Judicial officers would be required to include additional information with their filings. The bill would also amend Chapter 572 of the Government Code to include the judge of a statutory county court with the definition of "elected officer." The bill would place limits on the time period for making political contributions in connection with an election and would require additional information on candidate and officeholder reports. The bill would require current officeholders and candidates for positions of county district judge and statutory county judge to file with the Texas Ethics Commission. The Commission estimates that approximately 1300 new filers would be added to those already filing with the Commission, including both officeholders and candidates for judicial positions. The Ethics Commission's estimated cost for implementing this bill is derived from the salary and benefit costs for one administrative technician, plus operating expenses, and one-time capital equipment costs. The bill would increase the number of filings with local governments, although the fiscal impact on units of local government would vary. District clerks are not currently required to be a depository for campaign or officeholder reports and have no internal mechanism already in place to receive reports required under this bill. The Harris County District Clerk's Office estimates that implementation of this bill would cost $39,605 for initial start-up and salary costs, with continuing fiscal implications from the salary of one additional employee. County clerks currently are required to be a depository for certain local filings and already have systems in place to accept filings. There should be no significant fiscal impact on county clerks from this bill. The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows, per estimate of the Texas Ethics Commission: Fiscal Probable Cost Out Change in Year of General Number of State Revenue Employees from Consolidated - FY 1995 State Ethics Fund 104 1996 $35,088 1.0 1997 30,013 1.0 1998 30,013 1.0 1999 30,013 1.0 2000 30,013 1.0 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. The fiscal implication to units of local government cannot be determined. Source: Legislative Budget Board LBB Staff: JK, JC, DF