LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION May 11, 2015 TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB19 by Taylor, Van (Relating to the ethics of public officers and related requirements; creating criminal offenses.), As Engrossed No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend Government Code to increase transparency and disclosure requirements for state officers and lobbyists. The bill would also prohibit certain elected officials from registering as lobbyists while in office and would prohibit former legislators from paid lobbying for the first two years after leaving office. The bill would require all personal financial statements to be filed electronically with the Ethics Commission and to be searchable electronically. The bill would also add a drug testing requirement for elected officials, to be conducted by the authority responsible for determining eligibility for the elected office, and with the results published on the Ethics Commission website. The Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State indicate that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.The bill would take effect January 10, 2017, however certain lobby disclosure requirements would take effect September 1, 2015. Local Government Impact The bill would require drug testing at the time a person files for public elective office. Local entities could be financially impacted depending on the size of the entity and number of persons. However, no significant fiscal implication to units of local government 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. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, 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 be significant. Source Agencies:307 Secretary of State, 356 Texas Ethics Commission LBB Staff: UP, KVe, AG, EP, EMo
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
May 11, 2015
TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB19 by Taylor, Van (Relating to the ethics of public officers and related requirements; creating criminal offenses.), As Engrossed
TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB19 by Taylor, Van (Relating to the ethics of public officers and related requirements; creating criminal offenses.), As Engrossed
Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB19 by Taylor, Van (Relating to the ethics of public officers and related requirements; creating criminal offenses.), As Engrossed
SB19 by Taylor, Van (Relating to the ethics of public officers and related requirements; creating criminal offenses.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Government Code to increase transparency and disclosure requirements for state officers and lobbyists. The bill would also prohibit certain elected officials from registering as lobbyists while in office and would prohibit former legislators from paid lobbying for the first two years after leaving office. The bill would require all personal financial statements to be filed electronically with the Ethics Commission and to be searchable electronically. The bill would also add a drug testing requirement for elected officials, to be conducted by the authority responsible for determining eligibility for the elected office, and with the results published on the Ethics Commission website. The Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State indicate that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.The bill would take effect January 10, 2017, however certain lobby disclosure requirements would take effect September 1, 2015.
Local Government Impact
The bill would require drug testing at the time a person files for public elective office. Local entities could be financially impacted depending on the size of the entity and number of persons. However, no significant fiscal implication to units of local government 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. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, 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 be significant.
Source Agencies: 307 Secretary of State, 356 Texas Ethics Commission
307 Secretary of State, 356 Texas Ethics Commission
LBB Staff: UP, KVe, AG, EP, EMo
UP, KVe, AG, EP, EMo