Honorable Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB582 by Howard (Relating to certain restrictions on contributions and expenditures from political funds by a lobbyist; providing penalties.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Election code and Government code to restrict political contributions by a lobbyist to a member of the executive or legislative branch. The restriction made by the bill would not apply to lobbyists for nonprofits or certain low income and disabled individuals and lobbyists that do not receive compensation for their work. The bill would also define violations of this statute as a Class A misdemeanor. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both.
It is anticipated that any costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within existing agency resources.
Local Government Impact
Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution, and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact.