Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1611 by Hall (Relating to a voter registrar's compliance with certain laws and secretary of state rules; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1611, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($446,640) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
($229,726)
2021
($216,914)
2022
($216,914)
2023
($216,914)
2024
($216,914)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($229,726)
2.0
2021
($216,914)
2.0
2022
($216,914)
2.0
2023
($216,914)
2.0
2024
($216,914)
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Election Code to increase the frequency of monitoring by the Secretary of State of county voter registrars and to establish a state jail felony.
The bill takes effect September 1, 2019.
Methodology
Based on analysis by the Secretary of State, the increase in monitoring frequency required by the bill would result in increased workload and require 2.0 additional FTEs to implement. This increase in workload is attributed additional monitoring of Texas' 254 counties, additional notices to related county registrars, and referral of violations established by the bill. In addition, county elections training materials would require revisions by the Secretary of State, but this analysis assumes that the cost to update these materials could be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
County registrars found in violation of the provisions of Election Code, Section 18.065 will have committed a state jail felony offense. For other local political subdivisions, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated.