COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. No.:         3272-01

Bill No.:          HB 1317

Subject:           Secretary of State: Elections, Registration, Citizenship

Type:              Original

Date:               February 1, 2008

Bill Summary:            Requires election authorities to verify United States citizenship of all voter registration applicants.

FISCAL SUMMARY

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 5 pages.

☐ Estimated Total Net Effect on All funds expected to exceed $100,000 savings or (cost).

☐ Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund expected to exceed $100,000 (cost).

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials of the Office of the Secretary of State - Election Division assume no fiscal impact to their division. Officials assume this bill will have a fiscal impact on Local Election Authorities (LEA). LEAs will be required to verify all voter registration forms through some electronic means. This verification will require additional staff processing time. This verification may also require additional computer equipment and internet access.

Officials of the Kansas City Election Board stated that to be able to comply with the requirements of this proposal the board would need the following:

1. need to purchase 10 laptop computers with internet access. Officials estimate cost at $10,000; 2. annual wireless internet access for 10 laptop computers. Cost of $6,000; and

3. annual increase in staff overtime to run registration drivers instead of deputy registers. Cost estimated at $10,000 to $20,000.

Officials of the Platte County Board of Election Commission assume that if the Secretary of State would add the electronic checking feature to the current Missouri Voter Registration database system, there would be no additional cost to their election board. Officials did not estimate additional cost if this did not materialize.

Officials of the Clinton County Clerk’s office assume they would have costs for computers, additional administrative impact from staff time. Officials assume if the Federal government were to pay the costs there would be none for their county. Officials did not estimate costs.

Oversight will show fiscal impact to local election authorities as an unknown. Costs on a statewide basis are indeterminable. Oversight would expect costs to exceed $100,000 in the first year, and should be less in following years. Oversight assumes no state fiscal impact.

* Oversight assumes first year costs would exceed $100,000 due to election authorities having to purchase certain equipment, supplies, programming costs and staff overtime pay.

FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business

No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.

FISCAL DESCRIPTION

This bill requires election authorities to verify that a voter registration applicant is a United States citizen. Verification can be made by any electronic means available by the appropriate federal agency.

This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Secretary of State - Elections

Kansas City Election Board

Platte County Board of Election Commission

Clinton County Clerk

NOT RESPONDING

St. Louis City Board of Election

St. Louis County Board of Election Commission

Clay County Board of Election Commission

Boone County Clerk

Callaway County Clerk

Cape Girardeau County Clerk

Cass County Clerk

Buchanan County Clerk

Franklin County Clerk

Greene County Clerk

Butler County Clerk

Jefferson County Clerk

Johnson County Clerk

Texas County Clerk

Warren County Clerk

Webster County Clerk

                                                                                                Mickey Wilson, CPA

                                                                                                Director

                                                                                                February 1, 2008