Honorable Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1958 by Turner, Sylvester (Relating to voting by voters unable to enter a polling place.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1958, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($721,840) through the biennium ending August 31, 2015.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2014
($721,840)
2015
$0
2016
($721,840)
2017
$0
2018
($721,840)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2014
($721,840)
2015
$0
2016
($721,840)
2017
$0
2018
($721,840)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Election Code to require the Secretary of State to adopt rules and procedures related to informing and educating the public and providing training for election officers on the availability of voting, eligibility requirements for voting, and the law regarding voting for those individuals that are unable to enter a polling place. The bill would require an election officer to check outside once every 15 minutes for a voter who is unable to enter a polling place, and require a poling place to post signs outside that provide instructions for such voters. The Secretary of State would be able to withhold funds from a political subdivision that does not comply with the requirements of the bill.
The Secretary of State indicates that the bill would require up to one additional poll worker at each polling location to implement the provisions of the bill. The Secretary of State provides reimbursements to localities for primary and runoff elections, and therefore estimates that the provisions would cost $721,840 out of General Revenue every even numbered fiscal year.
The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.
Methodology
The Secretary of State estimates 6,445 polling places, based upon the average number of polling places for primary and runoff elections held in 2008 and 2010. The Secretary of State assumes one additional poll worker at each location, at the pay of $8.00 an hour for 14 hours.
Local Government Impact
The Texas Association of Counties (TAC) reported that Bexar County would see costs of approximately $360,000 for each two-year election cycle. Each election would cost approximately $40,000 for new staff at 300 voting sites and 42 early voting sites, with nine elections occurring every two years.
TAC reported that Wise County estimates costs of $2,820 per election for 21 election sites.
There would also be costs for election-related postings required by the bill that could not be estimated.