TO: | Honorable Todd Smith, Chair, House Committee on Elections |
FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | HB1892 by Berman (Relating to nominations by primary election by all political parties.), As Introduced |
Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
---|---|
2010 | ($7,500,000) |
2011 | $0 |
2012 | ($7,500,000) |
2013 | $0 |
2014 | ($7,500,000) |
Fiscal Year | Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1 |
---|---|
2010 | ($7,500,000) |
2011 | $0 |
2012 | ($7,500,000) |
2013 | $0 |
2014 | ($7,500,000) |
The bill would require all political parties to be nominated by a primary election. The bill would also repeal Sections 162.007, 172.002, 202.005, and Subtitle C, Title 10 of the Election Code related to candidate nomination process by convention.
Secretary of State (SOS) assumes the cost of this bill would be $7.5 million. SOS averaged the Democrat and Republican costs for the 2006 primary in the counties where other parties have county chairs and applied the average to the other parties’ county chairs to determine the total cost associated with this bill.
The bill would require all political parties to be nominated by a primary election. Local governments could incur additional costs to print additional election ballots, or purchase or rent additional election equipment for early voting.
Dallas, Tarrant, and Tom Green Counties reported the costs to implement the provisions of the bill are not anticipated to be significant.
The Harris County Office of Budget and Management reported the costs would be an estimated $200,000 (34 to 40 polling locations) to $1,000,000 (750 polling locations) to hold a countywide primary election for a third political party, rather than two as is currently required.
Lubbock County reported the costs would be an estimated $25,000 for new operational costs that would include longer training sessions for poll workers.
Source Agencies: | 307 Secretary of State, 356 Texas Ethics Commission
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LBB Staff: | JOB, TP, SD, MS, BTA
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