LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
May 9, 2001
TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
State Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2 by Gallego (Relating to the regulation of certain
political contributions, political expenditures, and
political advertising; providing civil and criminal
penalties.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB2, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: negative impact of *
* $(195,313) through the biennium ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
**************************************************************************
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $(195,313) *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
*****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from *
* General Revenue Fund *
* 0001 *
* 2002 $(195,313) *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
*****************************************************
Technology Impact
The bill would require programming modifications to the Texas Ethics
Commission's database and software. All electronic filers will
experience some changes in reporting requirements that require
modifications in the electronic filing software. The costs for new
programming would be $78,575.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Elections Code and required additional
information for certain contributors which would require the Texas
Ethics Commission to revise all campaign finance filing guides and
instructions, prescribe new forms, change existing forms, make
modifications to the existing electronic filing software and provide the
new software to Texas Ethics Commission filers, as well as providing
notice to candidates, officeholders, and political committees.
Methodology
Based on the Texas Ethics Commission's experience in implementing the
electronic filing system, the agency has estimated it would take 785.75
hours at $100 per hour to make the required programming changes. This
estimate is based on the current agency's maintenance cost for the
electronic filing system and the agency's experience in implementing the
current electronic filing system. Additionally, the agency has
estimated administrative costs of $116,738 for postage, envelopes,
paper, and software reproduction to mail forms and instructions to 3,400
Commission filers and 5,000 local filing authorities.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 356 Texas Ethics Commission
LBB Staff: JK, RB, GS