Honorable Reggie Smith, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB380 by Bucy (Relating to the secretary of state posting on the secretary of state's Internet website databases containing certain information about elections.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB380, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($1,373,786) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2024
($844,602)
2025
($529,184)
2026
($529,769)
2027
($530,379)
2028
($531,015)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2021
2024
($844,602)
6.0
2025
($529,184)
6.0
2026
($529,769)
6.0
2027
($530,379)
6.0
2028
($531,015)
6.0
Fiscal Analysis
This bill would amend the Election Code to require the Secretary of State (SOS) to maintain a publicly accessible database containing certain specified election information. Local election authorities would be required to provide the required information to the SOS in an electronic format prescribed by the agency. The bill would also require the SOS to maintain a database containing certain specified information about every incumbent and candidate for any elected office in the State.
Methodology
The bill would require SOS to collect information from approximately 1,400 school districts, over 1,200 cities, and more than 5,000 water districts as well as an unknown number of library districts, hospital districts, special utility districts, and various other special purpose districts. The bill requires county election officials to compile this information for the agency.
The SOS anticipates that it would require six additional FTEs in the Elections Division to assist local election officials with submitting the specified information, supplying technical assistance, and providing training about the new reporting process. These FTEs would be Program Specialist II positions at a cost of $59,473 per FTE (totaling $356,837 per year) and a total of $113,582 per year in associated benefits. The new positions would require $40,745 in IT setup costs for fiscal year 2024 and other operating expenses of $6,836 per year.
Technology
The SOS estimates that complying with the requirements of the bill would require a total of 1,384 hours for configuration, implementation and testing of changes in the Texas Elections Administration Management (TEAM) system. Development would require 800 hours at $185 per hour ($148,000), business analysis and testing would require 504 hours at $174 per hour ($87,696), and project management would require 80 hours at $234 per hour ($18,720). The total cost of required TEAM system modifications would be $254,416. There would also be an estimated increase of maintenance and storage costs of $38,162 that would be an ongoing expense.
The SOS also indicates there would be an increase in technology costs related to adding the required six new FTEs of $34,024 in fiscal year 2024 and annual recurring costs of $13,766 thereafter that the agency anticipates increasing at a rate of 4.24 percent per year in subsequent years.
Local Government Impact
The responsibilities related to a new statutory requirement that county election officials compile and transmit candidate information from other election authorities could have a significant fiscal impact on certain counties depending on the number of such reports that must be coordinated. The fiscal impact on these counties cannot be determined at this time.