FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATURE 1st CALLED SESSION - 2017
August 3, 2017
TO:
Honorable Jodie Laubenberg, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB47 by Schofield (Relating to the prevention of fraud in the conduct of early voting by mail; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Election Code relating to the prevention of fraud in the conduct of early voting by mail, would create criminal offenses, and increase criminal penalties for certain offenses in this code.
The Secretary of State, Office of Court Administration, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice indicate they do not anticipate a significant fiscal impact associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.
This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on the demand for state correctional resources. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2018 and apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act.
Local Government Impact
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in county 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.
According to the Texas Association of Counties (TAC), Oldham, Young, Grayson, and Williamson County implementation of the bill could have a negative fiscal impact associated with early voting at residential care facilities; however, costs may be mitigated due to savings from the repeal of certain provisions House Bill 658, 85th Regular Session.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 307 Secretary of State, 696 Department of Criminal Justice