| TO: | Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2085 by Campbell (Relating to the availability of bilingual clerks for an election.), As Engrossed |
The bill would require an authority holding an election to ensure that there is a sufficient number of election clerks who are fluent in both English and Spanish available to serve the needs of the Spanish-speaking voters, and if not, to appoint at least one clerk who is fluent in both languages to be available at a central location to provide assistance. On a primary election day, the county chairs of each party holding a primary would be required to appoint one bilingual clerk.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2003.
There are counties that already provide the service described in the bill, such as Harris, Tom Green, and Victoria counties. The election administrator in Denton County estimates the cost of hiring an interpreter would be $195 for one 12-hour day, or $1,770 total if the provision of the bill applies to early voting days as well as election days. Additionally, the Texas Association of Election Administrators stated that the cost for hiring an interpreter is $15 to $20 per hour for 12 hours ($180 to $240 per day).
It is anticipated that there would be no significant fiscal impact to units of local government.
| Source Agencies: | 307 Secretary of State
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| LBB Staff: | JK, RR, GO, DLBa
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