LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

Revision 1

March 10, 2009

TO:	Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB92 by Van de Putte (Relating to the establishment of a program to provide a ballot by electronic mail to military personnel serving overseas.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Secretary of State (SOS) to implement a program to provide a ballot by electronic mail to military personnel serving overseas. Counties with a population of 100,000 or more shall participate in the program and countries with a population under 100,000 may participate if approval is received from the SOS.  The SOS shall also prescribe procedures to allow for digital signatures.

Local Government Impact

The bill would require a county with a population of 100,000 or more to participate in the program. The costs to counties with a large military population would likely incur costs associated with participating in the program.

The bill also would permit a county with a population of less than 100,000 to participate in the program only if an early voting clerk makes a request to the SOS to participate. It is assumed that a county would participate in the program only if sufficient funds were available. The costs to counties with a population of less than 100,000 with a large military population that chooses to participate in the program would likely incur costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, MS, BTA, TP