LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 4, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Debra Danburg, Chair, House Committee on
               Elections
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2434  by Madden (Relating to the reporting of offers of
               money made to candidates, officeholders, and political
               committees.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB2434, As Introduced:  negative impact of $(132,438) 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                           $(132,438)  *
          *       2003                                    0  *
          *       2004                                    0  *
          *       2005                                    0  *
          *       2006                                    0  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
         *****************************************************
         * Fiscal Year      Probable Savings/(Cost) from      *
         *                      General Revenue Fund          *
         *                              0001                  *
         *      2002                               $(132,438) *
         *      2003                                        0 *
         *      2004                                        0 *
         *      2005                                        0 *
         *      2006                                        0 *
         *****************************************************
  
Technology Impact
  
The bill would require programming modifications to parts of theTexas
Ethics Commission's software and the databases.  All filers who file
electronically will have some changes in reporting requirements that
require modifications in the electronic filing software.  The cost of
the new programming would be $15,700.
  
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would require additional information for certain contributions
which would require the Texas Ethics Commission to revise all campaign
finance filling guides and instructions, prescribe new 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 157
hours at $100 per hour to make the required programming changes.  This
estimate is based on the current Texas Ethics Commission's maintenance
cost for the electronic filing system and its experience in implementing
the current electronic filing system.  Additionally, the Texas Ethics
Commission is estimating administrative costs of $116,738 for postage,
envelopes, paper, and software reproduction.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   356   Texas Ethics Commission
LBB Staff:         JK, TB, GS