LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 28, 2007

TO:	Honorable Leo Berman, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1696 by Hilderbran (Relating to the improper use of information contained in a report of political contributions and expenditures; creating an offense.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend statute and prohibit a person from selling or using, for a commercial purpose, information obtained from a report of political contributions and expenditures. In addition, the bill would provide that a report of political contributions and expenditures may not list more than 10 fictitious names as person making contributions. Contributions attributed to fictitious persons must be subtracted from the total amount reported and no more than $1,000 may be attributed to a fictitious person. The list of fictitious names used in the report must be submitted to the authority with whom the report was filed. It is assumed that any additional costs associated with implementation of the bill could be absorbed within existing states resources.

This bill would take effect on September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General, 356 Texas Ethics Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, MN, JM