SB 0729 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0729 - Modifies provisions relating to the filing of reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. NO. 3251-03

BILL NO. SCS for SB Nos. 729 & 772

SUBJECT: Campaign Finance; Elections

TYPE: Original

DATE: February 17, 1998

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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

** See potential for costs in the Assumption section.

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	$0	$0

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses

This fiscal note contains 3 pages.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials from the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) assume the proposed legislation would have not have a significant fiscal impact on their agency, provided that the term "investigation" refers to only the investigation of properly filed complaints by existing Commission staff investigators. However, if the term "investigation" would also include audits of various reports filed with the Commission or anything beyond the scope of properly filed complaints, the fiscal impact would be significant and would include the need for additional staff. The specific fiscal impact would depend on the final wording or definitions in the proposed legislation. It is also assumed that the Commission's role in any ongoing investigations as described above would have to be concluded within three months of the effective date of the legislation.

FISCAL IMPACT - State Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	0	0	0
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	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 amend the due date for certain disclosure reports when the due date for those reports falls on Saturday, Sunday or a holiday. The proposal would remove mandatory electronic filing requirements for continuing committees. It would prohibit enforcement action by the Missouri Ethics Commission against campaign finance committees currently required to file in electronic format.

The proposed legislation would require the Missouri Ethics Commission to complete and make

DESCRIPTION (continued)

determination on all investigations within three months of initiation. An additional three months would be allowed in certain cases. This proposal would apply to all ongoing investigations on the effective date. Any investigations not completed within the allotted time frame would be deemed to not have been a violation.

This proposal contains an emergency clause.

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

Missouri Ethics Commission

Jeanne Jarrett, CPA

Director

February 17, 1998