LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 26, 2007

TO:	Honorable David Dewhurst , Lieutenant Governor, Senate Honorable Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1146 by Bonnen (Relating to the authority of small cities to conduct elections only by mail.), Conference Committee Report

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Election Code by authorizing a city with a population of less than 250 to adopt an ordinance providing that one or more elections held by the city would be held by mail only. Procedures for implementation are identified in the bill, and the Secretary of State would also be required to prescribe any additional procedures necessary. These provisions would expire on July 1, 2009.

 

The bill would take effect immediately upon approval of two-thirds of the members elected to each house; otherwise it would take effect September 1, 2007.

 

The Secretary of State's office indicates the agency could implement provisions of the bill using current resources.

Local Government Impact

It is anticipated that a city would adopt an ordinance for a mail-only election if the city would experience a savings over the costs associated with operating a polling place.

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State

LBB Staff:

JOB, SD, KJG, MN, DB