LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATURE 3rd CALLED SESSION - 2003

October 10, 2003

TO:	Honorable David Dewhurst , Lieutenant Governor, Senate Honorable Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1 by Denny (Relating to the dates of and procedures for certain elections, the procedures for canvassing the ballots for an election, and the counting of certain ballots voted by mail.), Conference Committee Report

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The Secretary of State's office responded that the bill would have no fiscal impact to the state or units of local government.

Local Government Impact

Several election officials and school district officials provided information on the fiscal impact the elections would have on local government. Because school buildings are often used as polling places and because Spring Break often occurs in the month of March, changing election days in March would require that school facilities be available or that alternate sites be identified.

School administrators expressed concern that if the election were to coincide with standardized testing that is generally scheduled in March, the school district would be less likely to allow the schools to be used as a polling place.

The fiscal impact would vary by county and school district depending on whether an election falls during Spring Break or during a testing period and on how many schools are used as a polling place.

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State

LBB Staff:

JK, SD, GO, RR, JF, DLBa