SB 0912 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0912 - Equates witness mileage expenses with state employee travel expense rate

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. NO. 3524-01

BILL NO. SB 912

SUBJECT: Civil Procedure; Courts; County Officials

TYPE: Original

DATE: February 24, 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)

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	(Unknown)	(Unknown)	(Unknown)

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses

This fiscal note contains 3 pages.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator (CTS) assume the proposed legislation would increase witness fees to provide mileage reimbursement at the rate set by the Commissioner of Administration. CTS further assumes that most costs will be borne by those parties losing litigation. In the case of some indigent civil cases and in many indigent criminal cases, costs could be borne by counties or the state criminal cost account administered by the Office of Administration. CTS states that data is not available with which it might develop an estimate of costs.

Officials from the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of Prosection Services, and the Office of the State Public Defender assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on their agencies.

FISCAL IMPACT - State Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
Cost - Office of Adminstration	(Unknown)	(Unknown)	(Unknown)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT
ON GENERAL REVENUE	(Unknown)	(Unknown)	(Unknown)
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
Total fiscal impact is unknown. This would be entirely dependent upon the number of inidigent cases filed, the expenses incurred by the litigants, and the resulting judgements.

FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business

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

DESCRIPTION

This act clarifies that witness mileage expenses shall be reimbursed at the same amount as is allowed state employees for travel expenses.

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

Office of State Courts Administrator

Office of the Attorney General

Office of Prosecution Services

Office of the State Public Defender

Jeanne Jarrett, CPA

Director

February 24, 1998