SB 0645 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0645 - Establishes English as the official language of the state of Missouri

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. NO. 2743-01

BILL NO. SB 645

SUBJECT: Official Language

TYPE: Original

DATE: January 15, 1998

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FISCAL SUMMARY

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
General Revenue	(Unknown)	(Unknown)	(Unknown)
Total Estimated Net Effect on All State Funds*	(Unknown)	(Unknown)	(Unknown)

-SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION-

*Costs could exceed $10,000,000 per year when programs are fully funded and implemented.

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
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*

*Income and costs net to $0.

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses

This fiscal note contains 4 pages.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials of the State Courts Administrator would expect one or more test cases concerning this proposal, but would not expect any significant impact on state courts.

Officials of the Secretary of State note that some documents in archives were not written in English. They assume that this proposal would not require the documents be translated. They noted that they would have to print rules promulgated by the Department of Social Services for the grant program and estimated a one-time cost of $595. Oversight notes that state law allows the Secretary of State to adjust cost of the State Register and the Code of Regulations if necessary to offset cost of printing and publication.

Officials of the Department of Social Services note that the Federal Refugee Assistance program includes English language support services, but do not know how many would need or request the day care, transportation and other services which could, depending on appropriations, be offered. They did report that the average number of immigrants and refugee resettlements to Missouri has averaged 5,195 during the last five years.

(Oversight notes that the Governor's request for purchase of day care for children who would need day care due to welfare reform requirements was about $2,500 per child. If it is assumed that immigrants who have been in the United states more than five years would not require language assistance, that 70% of immigrants are from countries where English is not the native language, and that 9% of immigrants are under 6 years of age-the percentage of Missouri population which was under 6-there would be about 1500 children who might qualify for grants. This would give an estimate of $3,750,000 for child care. Assuming transportation costs to be 25% of child care costs, estimated grants would be approximately $4,700,000 per year.)

Officials of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education notes that the proposal allows the Department to offer adult basic education for persons under sixteen years of age and that the Federal Adult Education Act which funds administration of Adult Basic Education programs in Missouri restricts administrative spending to programs which serve persons who are sixteen or older and who have dropped out of school. Therefore state monies would be needed for administration and technical assistance to local education agencies which would establish additional adult basic education programs. They estimate that up to 800 programs could be established at a cost of $45,000 per program per year. They would request an Adult Education Supervisor for each 400 new programs. Costs for the Supervisors, including fringe benefits and expenses and equipment would be about $104,000 per year. ($36,104,000 per year)

ASSUMPTION (continued)

Oversight notes that the number of programs which would be started would depend upon appropriations and that the additional administration and technical support needed would be

proportional to the number of programs started. Therefore, Oversight is showing costs for this proposal as unknown. Oversight assumes that by the time the education programs and the day care, transportation and service grants were fully in place, costs could exceed $10,000,000 per year.

FISCAL IMPACT - State Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
Cost to Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
Grants and Administration	(Unknown)	(Unknown)	(Unknown)
Cost to Department of Social Services
Grants	(Unknown)	(Unknown)	(Unknown)
NET EFFECT ON GENERAL
REVENUE FUND*	(UNKNOWN)	(UNKNOWN)	(UNKNOWN)
	-SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION-
*Costs could exceed $10,000,000 per year once programs are fully funded and established.
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
Income - Grants from State	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Costs - Services and Language
Education	(Unknown)	(Unknown)	(Unknown)
NET EFFECT ON POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS	$0	$0	$0

FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business

No direct fiscal effect on small businesses would be expected due to this proposal.

DESCRIPTION

This proposal would:

1) make English the official language of Missouri;

2) require that adult basic education programs administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) include provision of official language services to persons needing assistance in learning English;

3) require DESE, subject to appropriation, to provide grants to assist school districts and community-based organizations in providing English language instruction to those who need instruction;

4) require the Department of Social Services to provide, subject to appropriation, competitive grants for day care, transportation and other services to programs which aid in resettling of immigrants and refugees if the services would facilitate access to official language services; and,

5) require that all wills and estates have official English translations to ensure accurate execution of the documents.

This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space. This legislation would not affect Total State Revenue.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Department of Social Services

Secretary of State

State Courts Administrator

Jeanne Jarrett, CPA

Director

January 15, 1998