This Fiscal Note is not an official copy and should not be quoted or cited.
This Fiscal Note is not an official copy and should not be quoted or cited.
Fiscal Note - SB 0561 - Sewer, water, electric and gas utilities to provide Braille or large-type billing upon request
COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. NO. 2475-02
BILL NO. SCS for SB 561 with HCA 1
SUBJECT: Public Service Commission: Utilities
TYPE: Original
FISCAL SUMMARY
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS | |||
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 1999 | FY 2000 | FY 2001 |
| None | |||
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS | |||
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 1999 | FY 2000 | FY 2001 |
| None | |||
| 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 | (Minimal) | (Minimal) |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses
This fiscal note contains 3 pages.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials of the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Economic Development, Public Service Commission and the Office of Public Counsel assume this proposal would not fiscally impact their agencies.
Officials of the Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities assume this proposal would result in additional costs to municipals who own water, sewer, or utility services because most do not have the capability to print bills in braille. However, these costs cannot be estimated.
In a response to a similar proposal, Columbia Water and Light assumed the number of customers who are visually impaired and would request this type of billing would be fairly small. They estimated these costs to be $1,000 to $2,000 per year.
In a response to a similar proposal, City Utilities of Springfield assumed the cost to provide visually impaired customers a bill in braille, large print, or audio format, upon request, would be relatively small. They estimated these costs at less than $1,000 per year, depending on the number and format of the requests.
Oversight assumes there would be a small number of requests for bills in braille, large-type print, or audit format, and that these bills could be contracted out at minimal costs.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 1999 | FY 2000 | FY 2001 |
| (10 Mo.) | |||
| $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 1999 | FY 2000 | FY 2001 |
| (10 Mo.) | |||
| LOCAL GOVERNMENT | |||
| Costs for municipals to provide | |||
| braille or large-type billings | $0 | (Minimal) | (Minimal) |
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT | |||
| ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT | $0 | (Minimal) | (Minimal) |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business | |||
This proposal would have a fiscal impact on small businesses as it would require small utilities to add new billing capabilities.
DESCRIPTION
This legislation would require providers of sewer, water, electric, gas, telephone, or cable utility services to provide, upon the request of a customer, bills in braille, large print, or audio format, whichever the customer requests, at no added cost to the customers. The provisions of this proposal become effective on August 28, 1999.
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
Department of Economic Development
Public Service Commission
Office of Public Counsel
Department of Natural Resources
Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities
Columbia Water and Light
City Utilities of Springfield
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
April 16, 1998