LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 20, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Debra Danburg, Chair, House Committee on
               Elections
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB3221  by Madden (Relating to requirements for providing
               voting systems accessible to persons with physical
               disabilities.), As Introduced
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would require that a political subdivision that acquires a new
voting system or substantially modifies an existing system ensure
accessibility to persons with physical disabilities and provide these
voters with a practical and effective means to cast an independent and
secret ballot. Under the provisions of the bill, political subdivisions
would not be required to place a newly acquired voting system in each
polling place.

Travis County officials reported that they are in the process of changing
their voting system to meet standards under the Americans with
Disabilities Act.  The county anticipates an additional cost of $4.6
million.

Costs would vary by county, depending on how many systems would be
installed. An electronic voting system that meets the necessary
standards costs approximately $3,500 per machine.
  
  
Source Agencies:   307   Secretary of State
LBB Staff:         JK, TB, SK, DB