Elections Dept:
A. Approval of Order authorizing an emergency appropriation requiring the modification/retrofitting of elections voting equipment due to the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 598, which requires a voter-verifiable paper audit trail for voting systems.
B. Approval of 2021 emergency appropriation of funds in the amount of $2,648,740.00 from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance in accordance with Texas Local Government Code §111.070 to fund the modification/retofitting of voting equipment in order to comply with the legislative mandate.

References:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 111. COUNTY BUDGET

Sec. 111.070. EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS UNDER BUDGET; EMERGENCY EXPENDITURE; BUDGET TRANSFER.

(b) The commissioners court may authorize an emergency expenditure as an amendment to the original budget only in a case of grave public necessity to meet an unusual and unforeseen condition that could not have been included in the original budget through the use of reasonably diligent thought and attention. If the court amends the original budget to meet an emergency, the court shall file a copy of its order amending the budget with the county clerk and the clerk shall attach the copy to the original budget.

SB 598 amends Texas Election Code Chapters 127 and 129 which requires a voter-verifiable paper audit trail for election voting systems, as prescribed by the Texas Secretary of State (SOS).

AI-82280, CC 9-7-2021, CC acceptance and approval of Hart quotes for the retrofitting of voting equipment.