| TO: | Honorable Bill Callegari, Chair, House Committee on Government Reform |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3298 by Callegari (Relating to exempting municipalities and special districts from certain unfunded state mandates.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
Section 1 of the bill would exempt cities and special districts, as defined Local Government Code 43.052, from using certain voting stations if there is not a federal office appearing on the ballot, unless the city or special district receives reimbursememts to cover the cost of the election. For the purpose of this fiscal note, it is assumed that the state would not reimburse election costs that do not have a federal office on the ballot.
Section 2 of the bill would repeal Section 430.003 relating to exemption from the collection of fees from a state agency or public institution of higher education for the development or maintenance of programs for the control of excess water or storm water. The amount paid by state agencies would depend on the size and scope of the project.
The bill would be effective September 1, 2007.
Section 1 of the bill would create some cost savings to local governments, depending on the number of voting machines owned and the number of elections held in any given fiscal year.
Section 2 of the bill could result in recovery of costs for local governments. If a unit of local government needed to develop or maintain a program of facilities for the control of excess water or storm water, it could collect infrastructure fees from state agencies and institutions of higher education. The amount of the fees would depend on the size of the project.
| Source Agencies: | 307 Secretary of State
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, MN, MS, KJG
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