LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 20, 2011

TO:	Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1351 by Farias (Relating to Voter Education Week.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1351, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,353,800) through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2012	($2,345,000)
2013	($8,800)
2014	($2,337,500)
2015	($8,800)
2016	($2,337,500)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2012	($2,345,000)
2013	($8,800)
2014	($2,337,500)
2015	($8,800)
2016	($2,337,500)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would designate the third week of September as Voter Education Week.  The bill would require the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop a program that raises awareness about voter registration, upcoming elections, balloting procedures, and the availability of resources to answer voting-related questions.  SOS would be allowed to distribute sample ballots, record public service announcements, develop programs for use in public schools, libraries, and institutions of higher education, and utilize other public awareness methods.  SOS in cooperation with voter registrars would be allowed to promote Voter Education Week through a coordinated program.  Voter registrars would be required to direct program efforts at populations not served by SOS’s efforts or populations not registered but eligible to register to vote.  SOS would be required to report on the implementation of this section and the effectiveness of the program in increasing voter registration and turnout to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives not later than January 31 of each odd-numbered year.  The bill would be effective September 1, 2011.

Methodology

The cost to the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop a voter awareness program to put on the SOS website including information that can be used in education arenas would be $15,000 in fiscal year 2012 and $7,500 each subsequent fiscal year for maintenance and updates.  The cost to mail sample ballots to 7.0 million households including costs for postage, mail presort, ink, paper, and folding would be $2,030,000 in each even-numbered fiscal year.  A 15-second public service announcement would cost $300,000 in each even-numbered fiscal year.  The cost to report on the implementation and effectiveness of this program would be $1,300 in each odd-numbered fiscal year.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State

LBB Staff:

JOB, JT, MS, BTA