LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 2, 2017 TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB445 by Burton (Relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other public entities.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Local Government Code by adding Section 140.012 regarding the authorization of certain political subdivisions and other public entities to spend money on lobbying activities. The bill would only apply to: a political subdivision that imposes a tax or issues bonds; a special district that issues bonds; a regional mobility authority; a transit authority; a regional tollway authority; a special purpose district; a public institution of higher education; a community college district; a utility owned by the state or a political subdivision; or a river authority.The bill would require the political subdivision or entity (henceforward referred to entity) to vote on the expenditure of funds to influence legislation as a stand-alone item on the agenda. The entity would be required to report to the Texas Ethic Commission (Ethics Commission) and publish on the entity's website the amount of money authorized, the name of any person required to register as a lobbyist, and a copy of any contract for services. The bill would require the entity to report to the Ethics Commission and publish the amount of public money spent for membership fees and dues to any nonprofit organization or association that directly or indirectly attempt to influence pending legislation. The Ethics Commission would be required to create and make available to the public a searchable database on Ethic's website the data from the above reports. Based on the information provided by the Ethics Commission, this analysis assumes that any costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.The bill would take effect September 1, 2017. Local Government Impact According to the Texas Municipal League, the fiscal impact from the provisions of the bill to municipalities is not anticipated to be significant. Source Agencies:304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 356 Texas Ethics Commission, 701 Texas Education Agency, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board LBB Staff: UP, AG, BM, GGo, JGA
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 2, 2017
TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB445 by Burton (Relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other public entities.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB445 by Burton (Relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other public entities.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB445 by Burton (Relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other public entities.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
SB445 by Burton (Relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other public entities.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code by adding Section 140.012 regarding the authorization of certain political subdivisions and other public entities to spend money on lobbying activities. The bill would only apply to: a political subdivision that imposes a tax or issues bonds; a special district that issues bonds; a regional mobility authority; a transit authority; a regional tollway authority; a special purpose district; a public institution of higher education; a community college district; a utility owned by the state or a political subdivision; or a river authority.The bill would require the political subdivision or entity (henceforward referred to entity) to vote on the expenditure of funds to influence legislation as a stand-alone item on the agenda. The entity would be required to report to the Texas Ethic Commission (Ethics Commission) and publish on the entity's website the amount of money authorized, the name of any person required to register as a lobbyist, and a copy of any contract for services. The bill would require the entity to report to the Ethics Commission and publish the amount of public money spent for membership fees and dues to any nonprofit organization or association that directly or indirectly attempt to influence pending legislation. The Ethics Commission would be required to create and make available to the public a searchable database on Ethic's website the data from the above reports. Based on the information provided by the Ethics Commission, this analysis assumes that any costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Municipal League, the fiscal impact from the provisions of the bill to municipalities is not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 356 Texas Ethics Commission, 701 Texas Education Agency, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 356 Texas Ethics Commission, 701 Texas Education Agency, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
LBB Staff: UP, AG, BM, GGo, JGA
UP, AG, BM, GGo, JGA