Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2589 by Pena (Relating to the distribution and delivery of voter registration applications by volunteer deputy registrars; providing criminal penalties.), As Engrossed
The bill would amend the Elections Code as it relates to the distribution and delivery of voter registration applications by volunteer deputy registrars. Under the provisions of the bill, a volunteer deputy registrar commits an offense if the volunteer deputy knowingly causes a voter registration application containing false information to be delivered to the registrar would now be a state jail felony. The bill would also make distributing a voter registration application form to a person the volunteer deputy knows is ineligible to register to vote under Section 13.001, Eligibility for Registration, would now be a state jail felony.
A state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days, or, in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Creating a penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to longer terms of probation, or longer terms of confinement in county jails or prison. However, in the case of this bill, it is assumed the number of offenders convicted under this statute would not result in a significant impact on the programs and workload of state corrections agencies or on the demand for resources and services of those agencies.