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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Martinez
DATE TYPED 3/16/05
HB 990/aHAFC
SHORT TITLE Judicial Campaign Funding Act
SB
ANALYST Wilson
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
$0.1 Recurring General Fund
REVENUE
Estimated Revenue
Subsequent
Years Impact
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
$0.1 Recurring
Judicial Election
Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
Duplicates SB 642
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
Attorney General’s Office (AGO)
Corrections Department (CD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of HAFC Amendment
The House Appropriations and Finance Committee amendment removes the $50 thousand ap-
propriation from the general fund to the judicial election fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2006
and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the Judicial Campaign Funding Act.
pg_0002
House Bill 990/aHAFC-- Page 2
Synopsis of Original Bill
House Bill 990 appropriates $50 thousand from the general fund to the Judicial Election Fund for
the purpose of financing the election campaigns of certified candidates for supreme court justice
or court of appeals judge.
The fund will receive money from the following sources:
Qualifying contributions submitted to the Secretary of State
Any recurring balance of unspent fund money distributed to a certified candidate who
does not remain a candidate through the primary or general election period for which the
money was distributed
Money that remains unspent or unencumbered by a certified candidate following the date
of the primary election
Money that remains unspent or unencumbered by a certified candidate following the date
of the primary election and the general election
Unspent seed money that cannot be used for any other purpose
Money appropriated by the legislature
A certified candidate means a candidate running for supreme court justice or court of appeals
judge who chooses to obtain financing pursuant to the Act and who is certified as a Judicial
Campaign Funding Act candidate.
This bill also does the following:
o
Sets out the terms for obtaining financing, including filing a declaration of intent, and sets
out conditions that would cause a candidate to be ineligible for funding.
o
Describes the process by which applicants shall obtain qualifying contributions.
o
Provides for the collection, use and forfeiture of seed money by a candidate.
o
Sets out requirements for certification by the Secretary of State.
o
Sets out guidelines and restrictions for contributions to and expenditures of certified can-
didates.
o
Addresses political party expenditures as contributions to certified candidates.
o
Sets out candidate reporting requirements.
o
Provides for the timing and amount of fund distribution for adjustments to fund distribu-
tion.
o
Provides for the distribution of funds to a certified candidate in an amount sufficient to
equal the funds of an uncertified opponent.
o
Sets out the procedure for challenging a certification decision, including appeal to the dis-
pg_0003
House Bill 990/aHAFC-- Page 3
trict court.
o
Provides that a willful or knowing violation of the act is a fourth degree felony.
Significant Issues
The AOC suggests extending the deadline for return of unspent or unencumbered funds from two
weeks to one month of a primary or general election. A candidate could have, for example,
phone expenses that relate to the campaign but are in an unknown amount, with a bill to arrive
later than the two-week deadline.
The AOC further suggests in section 16, clarifying which decision may be appealed in district
court.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $50 thousand in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any un-
expended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall not revert to
the general fund.
This bill creates a new fund and provides for continuing appropriations. The LFC objects to in-
cluding continuing appropriation language in the statutory provisions for newly created funds.
Earmarking reduces the ability of the legislature to establish spending priorities.
There will be a minimal administrative cost for statewide update, distribution, and documenta-
tion of statutory changes. Any additional fiscal impact on the judiciary would be proportional to
the number of appeals filed in district court. New laws, amendments to existing laws, and new
hearings have the potential to increase caseloads in the courts, thus requiring additional resources
to handle the increase.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
The bill requires the Secretary of State to prepare and provide a report regarding the administra-
tion, implementation and enforcement of the act.
DUPLICATION
HB 990 duplicates SB 642
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