LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 5, 2007

TO:
Honorable Kim Brimer, Chair, Senate Committee on Administration
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SJR7 by Carona (Proposing a constitutional amendment to require a house or committee of the legislature to take a record vote on certain legislative measures and actions and to provide for public access to those record votes.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SJR7, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($253,843) 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 ($77,468)
2009 ($176,375)
2010 $0
2011 ($176,375)
2012 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2008 ($77,468)
2009 ($176,375)
2010 $0
2011 ($176,375)
2012 $0

Fiscal Analysis

The joint resolution requires a record vote in both houses of the legislature and committees of the legislature on approval or disapproval of any bill or joint resolution including amendments or substitutes and other appointments or elections of legislative officers or other public officials and confirmations of an appointment or nomination to public office. The votes shall be recorded in the journals or committee minutes of the appropriate house and published on the Internet.

Methodology

Information was obtained from the House on the number of non-record votes taken during the 79th Legislature, Regular Session. The number of non-record votes was multiplied by the estimated cost of each record vote ($55.00) to estimate the cost to the state. The Senate estimates that recording every members vote in the journal would require an additional 2/3 of a journal volume to be printed at a cost of approximately $10,000.

The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $77,468.


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, SD