LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 15, 2011

TO:	Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2817 by Taylor, Larry (Relating to certain election practices and procedures; providing penalties.), As Engrossed

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2817, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($140,000) 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	($140,000)
2013	$0
2014	$0
2015	$0
2016	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2012	($140,000)
2013	$0
2014	$0
2015	$0
2016	$0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Election Code relating to certain election practices and procedures. The bill would also require the Secretary of State (SOS) to implement a program to allow a person who has a valid driver’s license or state personal identification card to complete a voter registration application over the Internet from certain websites. The program would also be required to obtain a digital copy of the applicant’s signature from the Department of Public Safety. SOS would be required to adopt rules including rules to provide for additional security measures and a description of the offense on the website. The bill would also repeal certain sections of the Election Code.

Methodology

It is assumed that the fiscal impact of the bill would be approximately $140,000 for contracted programming costs (see Technology section). It is also assumed that there would be postage savings of approximately $0.80 each from people who choose to register online instead of mailing a prepaid postage voter registration application but it is not known how many people who would otherwise utilize prepaid postage applications would choose to register online instead. Therefore savings from reduced postage reimbursements to counties cannot be determined. It is anticipated that any additional costs associated with implementation of the legislation could be absorbed within existing resources.

Technology

SOS estimates a cost of $20,000 to develop an Internet voter registration application and $120,000 to import, verify, secure, and store the applicant’s digital signature. In addition, it is assumed that the Department of Public Safety would need to create an interface that would allow for the electronic signatures to be transmitted to SOS but it is assumed this cost could be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State, 405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, BTA