LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 11, 2013

TO:	Honorable Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB396 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to providing a federal postcard applicant with a ballot for certain elections in which the applicant is eligible to vote.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Election Code to allow a person to apply for a ballot with a single federal postcard application for one or more elections in which the person is eligible to vote. The bill would require the early voting clerk who does not conduct early voting to forward a copy of the application in a form prescribed by the Secretary of State (SOS) to each early voting clerk who conducts early voting in general or special elections held by a county, a municipality, or an independent school district.
 
SOS indicated that any costs associated with the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.

Local Government Impact

There would be a fiscal impact to local governments, but those amounts would vary depending on the affected entity's budget. Shelby County reported estimated costs totaling $11,500 for fiscal year (FY) 2014, and $14,000 for FY 2015; with similar amounts in subsequent fiscal years. The county indicated the costs would have a significant fiscal impact on the affected department's current fiscal year budget of $75,000.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

UP, KJo, JI, AHE