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 0110 - Modifies certain provisions of the Second Injury Fund
COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. NO. 495-01
BILL NO. Perfected SB 110
SUBJECT: Workers' Compensation: Second Injury Fund
TYPE: Original
DATE: February 11, 1999
FISCAL SUMMARY
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS | |||
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2000 | FY 2001 | FY 2002 |
| None | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS | |||
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2000 | FY 2001 | FY 2002 |
| None | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS | |||
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2000 | FY 2001 | FY 2002 |
| Local Government | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses
This fiscal note contains 3 pages.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Transportation and the Department of Insurance assume this proposal would not fiscally impact their agencies.
Officials of the Office of the Attorney General (AGO) estimated they would request additional staff (i.e., 5 assistant attorney generals, 1 paralegal and 2 secretaries). The AGO assumes that the proposal would mainly affect partial disability claims filed against the Second Injury Fund (SIF). If SIF cases were allowed to be submitted on medical reports cases previously settled or dismissed would be taken to hearing, resulting in an additional 800 to 1,200 cases. Along with this increase appeals would increase. In order to adequately defend these cases, SIF attorneys would have to cross-examine the claimant's doctor. Costs are estimated at $335,557 in FY00; $345,900 in FY01; and $354,928 in FY02.
The Attorney General's Office also estimated a loss to the Second Injury Fund of $5.0 million annually, due to an increase in claims.
Based on an Oversight Subcommittee decision on March 30, 1998, the financial impact of this proposal is assumed to be zero.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2000 | FY 2001 | FY 2002 |
| (10 Mo.) | |||
| $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2000 | FY 2001 | FY 2002 |
| (10 Mo.) | |||
| $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 would allow certain medical reports into evidence in second injury fund cases. The current subsection 7 of Section 287.210, RSMo, allows testimony by a treating or examining physician, introduction of medical reports, physician interrogatories and other records. The second injury fund is currently excluded from the applicability of subsection 7.
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 Labor and Industrial Relations
Department of Insurance
Department of Transportation
Office of Attorney General
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
February 11, 1999