SB 0544 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0544 - Establishes a presidential primary in Missouri

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. NO. 2064-02

BILL NO. SB 544

SUBJECT: Elections

TYPE: Original

DATE: February 2, 1998

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FISCAL SUMMARY

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
General Revenue		($2,102,580)	$0
Total Estimated Net Effect on All State Funds	$0	($2,104,116)	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
None	$0	$0	$0
Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds	$0	$0	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
Local Government	$0	$0	$0

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses

This fiscal note contains 4 pages.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials of the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) assume no fiscal impact.

Officials of the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) stated that this proposal would have fiscal impact to the State's General Revenue Fund.

Officials assume that the local election authorities would be reimbursed by the state for those costs which pertain directly to the Presidential Preference Primary.

Officials stated that actual reimbursable costs to local election authorities for the April 1996 special election was $1,079,361.25. When conducting an election in March when no other political subdivisions are holding and election, the costs cannot be shared as they were in April 1996. The entire cost of a March election will be borne by the state. Based on the available figures for the total costs of 109 of the 116 election jurisdictions in the April, 1996 election, costs exceeded $2,100,000. The cost of the additional 7 jurisdictions would increase this figure.

In addition, SOS assumes that two employees will work one week each to abstract and prepare the official election results at an estimated cost of $1,200. Costs to mail ballot certification documents by certified mail to 116 jurisdictions is estimated at $580 (116 x $5.00) and costs to print ballot certification documents and official election results is estimated at $2,000.

Oversight assumes that the request for 2 FTE for a week once every four years could be absorbed with existing staff.

Local election authorities of the St.. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners, and the County Clerks of Boone, Callaway and Monroe counties assume there would be additional election costs that would be reimbursed by the state.

FISCAL IMPACT - State Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
Costs to Secretary of State
Postage and Printing		$2,580
Reimbursement of costs of
conducting Presidential Primary
to local election authorities	$0	($2,100,000)	$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO
GENERAL REVENUE FUND	$0	($2,102,580)	$0
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
Income to Local Election Authorities
Reimbursement of costs of conducting
Presidential Primary Election	$0	$2,100,000	$0
Costs to Local Election Authorities
Conducting Presidential Primary Election	$0	($2,100,000)	$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS	$0	$0	$0
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business

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

DESCRIPTION

This proposal establishes a presidential primary on the second Tuesday in March, 2000 and on the second Tuesday in March every four years thereafter. The Secretary of State shall prepare a list of official candidates, who have paid a filing fee of $1,000 to their political parties and for whom a written request has been received by the Secretary of State. A series of caucuses shall be held after the primary to choose delegates to the national convention. Delegates must commit themselves to a candidate or an uncommitted slate. Seventy-five percent of the delegates shall be

DESCRIPTION (Continued)

chosen by caucus. Delegates in each Congressional district shall be chosen in proportion to the votes obtained by each candidate within each Congressional district. Candidates who receive less than fifteen percent of the district's vote shall not be allotted delegates. Votes cast for

candidates receiving less than fifteen percent of the total shall be allocated as uncommitted if such votes, in aggregate, plus votes for uncommitted are at least fifteen percent of the total

votes cast. At-large delegates shall be chosen by the state convention and shall be apportioned to

each candidate according to the candidate's total statewide vote. Delegates must vote for their

declared candidate through two ballots or until the candidate withdraws or obtains less than fifteen percent of the votes cast at the convention.

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

Missouri Ethics Commission

Board of Election Commissioners-St. Louis County

Boone County Clerk

Monroe County Clerk

Callaway County Clerk

Jeanne Jarrett, CPA

Director

February 2, 1998