Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1926 by Zedler (Relating to the administration of elections; creating an offense.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Election Code to require all counties to adopt an information reporting system that is part of or compatible with a unified statewide system to manage election administration.
The bill also would stipulate that any information provided by a watcher that could be used to identify the watcher would be confidential and could only be used for election administrative purposes. The bill would create a Class B misdemeanor for a violation of disclosure of information without the permission of the watcher. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both.
Local Government Impact
There could be a fiscal impact to counties that would be required to adopt an information reporting system, but the amounts would vary depending on whether a county currently uses a compatible system.
Comal County reported there would be no fiscal impact.
Harris County reported there could be costs associated with the information system requirement, but the county could not estimate the amounts.
Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.