LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 3, 2007

TO:
Honorable Leo Berman, Chair, House Committee on Elections
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2017 by Giddings (Relating to the date of the primary election and related procedures.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2017, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($307,739) through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008 ($307,739)
2009 $0
2010 ($307,739)
2011 $0
2012 ($307,739)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2008 ($307,739)
2009
2010 ($307,739)
2011 $0
2012 ($307,739)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would change the election date from the first Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in February in even-numbered years and would move the filing period up by one month. The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2007.

The change to the filing period adds an additional month of party administrative expenses.  Under current law, the parties are entitled to compensation for the administrative costs of office space and administrative personnel for the five month period of December, January, February, March, and April (if a there is a runoff election). The bill moves the filing period up an additional month which means that administrative expenses will now be accured during a six month period of October, November, December, January, February and March (if there is a runoff election).


Methodology

The change to the filing period adds one additional month of administrative expenses which include costs such as office space and administrative personnel. The estimate is based on reported expenses of the 2006 primary elections in which administrative costs for the March and April primary and primary runoff elections totaled $1,538,696. To add an additional month of adminstrative expenses, is estimated to cost an additional $307,739. This administrative cost would be borne by the county political parties and the Secretary of State would reimburse the county political parties out of the amounts appropriated.


Technology

The provisions of the bill have no impact to technology resources.

Local Government Impact

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


Source Agencies:
307 Secretary of State
LBB Staff:
JOB, MN, MS, KJG