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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Arnold-Jones

DATE TYPED

HB 660

SHORT TITLE Electronic Lobbyist Registration

SB

ANALYST Fernandez

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

NFI

NFI

NFI

NFI

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Secretary of State (SOS)

Corrections Department (CD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 660 allows for electronic authentication of a lobbyist or lobbyist’s employer’s signa-

ture when filing expenditure reports.

Significant Issues

Current statute allows for the electronic filing of lobbyist expenditure reports; however, an inde-

pendent affidavit must be submitted to the Secretary of State within 48 hours after the expendi-

ture report is electronically filed. This bill would allow the lobbyist or lobbyist’s employer to

use an electronic signature as prescribed by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Electronic Au-

thentication of Documents Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act at the same time the

electronic report is filed.

A report that is electronically authenticated shall be deemed to have been subscribed and sworn

to by the lobbyist or the lobbyist’s employer.

According to the Secretary of State, security features will ensure that lobbyist reports are authen-

tic and secure. Lobbyists will be issued a user name and password. Transmission of reports to

the Secretary of State will be encrypted using SSL technology. System security features will al-

low the Secretary of State’s Office to establish a verifiable link between the originator of the

House Bill 660 -- Page 2

document, the document, and the electronic signature, thereby fulfilling the requirements of the

Electronic Authentication of Documents Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

According to the Corrections Department, the agency does not have the capability to transmit

electronic signatures and would have to purchase the appropriate software and possibly make

modifications to its e-mail system. Implementing the changes could result in additional costs to

the agency.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Secretary of State indicates there will be less paperwork to track, file and scan resulting in in-

creased staff efficiency.

CTF/rs:yr