LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 13, 2005

TO:	Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2280 by Denny (Relating to the implementation of a statewide voter registration system as required by the federal Help America Vote Act.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Election Code to change the schedule in which the Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides voter registration information to the Secretary of State. It would also require DPS to electronically provide voter registration application data and signatures to the Secretary of State instead of county voter registrars, and the Secretary of State to adopt related procedures, including ability to permit DPS to delay the implementation date of the electronic transmission of the data and signatures if the department lacks the necessary equipment to make the transmission.

The bill would allow voters to correct their voter registration information by digital transmission under a program administered by the Secretary of State and the Department of Information Resources.

The bill would require the Secretary of State to prescribe procedures for relating to the updating of the statewide voter registration system.

It is anticipated that any costs to implement the provisions of the bill could be absorbed by existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State, 405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, SR, LB, MS, NR, KJG