FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATURE 1st CALLED SESSION - 2017
August 3, 2017
TO:
Honorable Sarah Davis, Chair, House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB16 by Davis, Sarah (Relating to the ethics of public servants, including the authority and duties of the Texas Ethics Commission, the regulation of certain contributions and expenditures, and the reporting of political contributions and political expenditures and personal financial information; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Election Code and Government Code relating to the ethics of public servants, including the authority and duties of the Texas Ethics Commission, the regulation of certain contributions and expenditures, and the reporting of political contributions and political expenditures and personal financial information; creating a criminal offense.
Based on information provided by the Ethics Commission, this analysis assumes that any costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within existing resources. The bill would take effect December 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
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. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication