LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 11, 2017

TO:
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1666 by Huffman (Relating to the conduct of primary elections; increasing a criminal penalty.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Election Code relating to the conduct of primary elections; increasing a criminal penalty.

The Secretary of State, Department of Criminal Justice, and the Office of Court Administration assume any additional work associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

The bill would amend Section 162 of the Election Code to increase the punishment for unlawful participation in party affairs from a Class C Misdemeanor to a state jail felony or a second degree felony, depending upon the circumstances of the offense.  This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies.

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2017.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
307 Secretary of State, 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 696 Department of Criminal Justice
LBB Staff:
UP, JPo, AG, NV, ASa, BM