Honorable Briscoe Cain, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4364 by Jetton (Relating to poll watchers; creating an offense.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Election Code as it relates to poll watchers. Among other provisions, the bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor for an election officer to intentionally or knowingly refuse to accept a poll watcher for service when acceptance of the watcher is required.
Local Government Impact
According to Hays, Cameron, Fort Bend, Tarrant, Williamson, Fort Bend, and Brazoria Counties, no fiscal impact to those counties 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.