LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 13, 2007

TO:	Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1195 by Patrick, Dan (Relating to restrictions on the use of political contributions by certain state officers; providing a criminal penalty.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Election Code to prohibit a member of the legislature from using political contributions to pay rent and other expenses for a personal residence, including a residence in Travis County or a surrounding county by a member of the legislature who does not ordinarily reside in that county. Provisions of the bill would also prohibit a state representative or a state senator from knowingly making an expenditure from political contributions if the expenditure is for a gift to another state representative or state senator, the lieutenant governor, or the governor. A violation would be a Class A misdemeanor.

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable to a fine not to exceed $4,000, confinement in county jail for up to one year, or both.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

356 Texas Ethics Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, DB