Fiscal Note - SB 0252 - Requires Licensing of Bounty Hunters
L.R. NO. 1030-01
BILL NO. SB 252
SUBJECT: Bonds - Bail: Criminal Procedure
TYPE: Original
DATE: January 27, 1997
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
State Board of
Bounty Hunters $147,600 ($169,826) $87,030
PR Fees ($104,112) $104,112 $0
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
State Funds $43,488 ($65,714) $87,030
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
None $0 $0 $0
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
Local Government $0 $0 $0
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Department of Economic Development (DED)-Professional
Registration (DPR) assume the proposed legislation would result in the
registration of 820 individuals biennially, with a projected annual growth
rate of 3%. The initial registration fee and biennial renewal fee would be
set at $180. The FY 99 revenue would only reflect licensing for the 3%
growth rate (24 individuals) at 50% of the biennial license fee.
To implement the legislation, DPR asserts the need for .5 Licensure
Technician I (.5 FTE at 16,488 per year) to provide clerical and technical
support directly to the Principal Assistant and the Board and a .5 Principal
Assistant (.5 FTE at $33,879 per year) to serve as the senior executive
officer of the Board and be responsible for overseeing the licensure and
regulation of the program.
It is assumed the Board would meet two times per year for one day. Each of
the seven members would receive a $50 per day per diem for an annual total of
$700, as well as associated travel costs (mileage, lodging and meals) for an
annual total of $2,914 per year.
DPR has included costs to investigate complaints and assumes there would be
five complaints and investigations per year. This would entail costs for
investigators and professional experts, as well as associated travel costs,
resulting in an annual total of $12,546.
Additionally, DPR has included rental costs to accommodate the additional
FTEs. However, Oversight assumes DPR would locate new FTEs in existing
facilities and has not included rental costs as a result of this proposal.
Oversight has also adjusted equipment requests based on OA guidelines.
DPR assumes there would be a one time cost to design, program and implement a
computer registration program to accommodate bounty hunters for a total of
$14,400 (240 hours x $60 per hour). Also, it is assumed the Board would
develop its own examination at a one time cost of $30,000.
DPR estimates General Revenue transfers to be $10,976 per year, based on the
FY general revenue transfer from the Board of Optometry, a board of similar
size.
It is assumed the State Board of Bounty Hunters Fund would reimburse the PR
Fees Fund for the start-up costs incurred in FY 98.
Officials from the Department of Safety (DPS)-Missouri State Highway Patrol
(MHP) assume the proposed legislation would require MHP to receive and
process all requests from bounty hunters and to maintain files. To
accomplish this, MHP has requested one part-time Clerk Typist position at
$6,496 per year for each of the nine troops, resulting in an average annual
cost of approximately $90,000. Oversight assumes, however, that MHP could
handle additional duties associated with registering non resident bounty
hunters with existing staff and accordingly, has not included costs
associated with the nine part- time clerical employees in the fiscal impact
specifications below. If the proposal would result in a significant increase
in workload, MHP could request additional resources through the budget
process.
Officials from the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) assume the proposed
legislation would require the printing of additional pages in the Missouri
Register and the Code of State Regulations and have estimated a one-time
publishing and distribution cost of $319 for FY 1998. The actual financial
impact could be substantially more or less than this estimate, depending on
the actual rulemaking activity of the board. SOS acknowledges that
additional costs could, to some degree, be offset by those fees collected
from subscriptions, given that the number of subscribers remains constant or
increases. While this bill alone would not require SOS to acquire additional
staff, SOS assumes the cumulative effect of additional Register and Code
publishing duties could, at some point, require additional staff or
equipment. However, Oversight assumes SOS could increase fees to cover any
additional costs, per Section 536.033, RSMo.
Officials from the Department of Revenue (DOR) assume DOR would deposit fees
collected under The Bounty Hunter Licensure Act and would handle these
deposits with existing staff/resources.
Officials from the Office of Attorney General (AGO), Office of the State
Treasurer (STO), Office of State Courts Administrator (CTS) and Department of
Insurance (INS) assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact
on their agencies.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
(10 Mo.)
STATE BOARD OF BOUNTY
HUNTERS FUND
Revenue-Division of Professional Registration (DPR)
License Fees/Renewals $147,600 $2,160 $156,420
Costs-DPR
Reimbursement to PR Fees Fund $0 ($171,986) ($69,390)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO
STATE BOARD OF BOUNTY
HUNTERS FUND $147,600 ($169,826) $87,030
PR FEES FUND
Income-Division of Professional Registration (DPR)
Reimbursement from State Board
of Bounty Hunters Fund $0 $171,986 $69,390
Costs-DPR
Personal Service (1 FTE) ($21,502) ($26,458) ($27,120)
Fringe Benefits (6,135) (7,548) (7,737)
Board Member Per Diem (700) (700) (700)
Expense and Equipment (64,799) (22,192) (22,857)
Other Costs/GR Transfers (10,976) (10,976) (10,976)
Total Costs - DPR ($104,112) ($67,874) ($69,390)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO
PR FEES FUND ($104,112) $104,112 $0
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
(10 Mo.)
$0 $0 $0
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of
this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
The proposed legislation would create the State Board of Bounty Hunters
within the Division of Professional Registration (DPR) to license all persons
engaged in the practice of bounty hunting in this state. The Board would be
allowed to prescribe rules for the inspection of establishments and schools
for firearms training and to appoint necessary inspectors, set the fees to
cover the costs of this act and determine the sufficiency of applicants'
qualifications. Fees collected would be deposited into the newly created
State Board of Bounty Hunters Fund. To become licensed, candidates would be
required to obtain a one million dollar bond insuring against any damages to
persons or property caused by the bounty hunter, as well as complete a
program of at least fifty-six hours of firearms training approved as
reputable by the Board.
Nonresidents who have a one million dollar bond, have paid the fee and have
proof of firearms training would be required to register with the local
highway patrol and the local law enforcement agency to hunt in this state for
one suspect.
The one million dollar bond required for licensure would be used to pay any
damages.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other
program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental
space.
This legislation could affect Total State Revenues.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Economic Development-Professional Registration
Department of Public Safety-Missouri State Highway Patrol
Office of the Secretary of State
Department of Revenue
Office of the Attorney General
Office of the State Treasurer
Office of State Courts Administrator
Department of Insurance
This Fiscal Note is not an official copy and should not be quoted or cited.