Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1745 by Bell (Relating to the funding and issuing of marriage licenses and certifications and the recognition of certain marriages.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1745, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,456,782) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.
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
2016
($1,450,919)
2017
($1,005,863)
2018
($1,005,863)
2019
($1,005,863)
2020
($1,005,863)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2015
2016
($1,450,919)
18.0
2017
($1,005,863)
18.0
2018
($1,005,863)
18.0
2019
($1,005,863)
18.0
2020
($1,005,863)
18.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Family Code to require the Secretary of State (SOS) to be the sole issuer of marriage licenses or certificates or declarations of informal marriage.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of each house; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2015.
Methodology
Under the provisions of the bill, the SOS indicated the fiscal impact would be $1,450,919 in fiscal year 2016, and $1,005,863 each fiscal year from 2017-2020. Costs include salaries for 18.0 FTEs, other operating, technology, and benefits. The SOS would be required to be the sole issuer of issue marriage licenses and certify declarations of informal marriage.
Currently, counties are responsible for issuing marriage licenses in Texas. According to the Vital Statistics Unit of the Texas Department of State Health Services reports that in 2013, Texas counties issued 185,510 marriage license applications and certifications relating to declarations of informal marriage. It is assumed that the same number of applications would be filed.
The SOS estimates the bill provisions would require one Director II (1.0 FTEs), ten Administrative Assistants III (10.0 FTEs), one Attorney III (1.0 FTEs), one Executive Assistant I (1.0 FTEs), four Customer Service Representatives III (4.0 FTEs), and one Programmer IV (1.0 FTEs) with a combined fiscal year cost of $979,970 for salaries ($731,976) and related benefits ($247,994).
The additional Administrative Assistants would process applications and perform data entry for indexing and recording purposes. The additional Customer Service Representatives would answer inquires from the public and county officials. The additional Attorney would draft local agreements with county officials, draft administrative rules, and provide on-site legal support.
Additionally, the SOS estimates renovations to existing office space would be required to accommodate additional FTEs, however such costs cannot be determined at this time.
Technology
There would be a technology impact related to computer hardware, software, and creation of a new application for the indexing, recording, and certification of marriage licenses and declarations estimated to be $414,000 in fiscal year 2016, and $75,000 in each subsequent fiscal year.
Local Government Impact
There may be costs and/or revenue loss to counties, however the fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.