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 0408 - Expands the availability of services to the blind and visually impaired
COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. NO.: 1839-01
BILL NO.: SB 408
SUBJECT: Includes Persons with Visual Impairments in Registry
TYPE: Original
DATE: March 1, 1999
FISCAL SUMMARY
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS | |||
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2000 | FY 2001 | FY 2002 |
|
General Revenue |
($5,532,000) to (Unknown) | ($7,468,200) to (Unknown) | ($10,082,070) to (Unknown) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
($5,532,000) to (Unknown) | ($7,468,200) to (Unknown) | ($10,082,070) to (Unknown) |
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS | |||
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2000 | FY 2001 | FY 2002 |
| None | |||
| 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 4 pages.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Department of Social Services - Division of Family Services (DFS) based their assumptions on 2 factors: 1) services to the "visually impaired" which is a new group covered by the proposal and 2) increased services mandated by the proposal.
Visually Impaired
The proposal adds visually impaired under Section 209.010 RSMo. No definition of visually impaired is included in this proposal and there is no definition of visually impaired in current statutes relating to DFS. The only statutory definition of visually impaired relates to special education and it is the same definition that DFS uses to define blindness. Visually impaired could range from impairments correctable by glasses to visual limitations not correctable and possibly leading to blindness as defined by statute. Without a clear definition of visually impaired, DFS cannot estimate the number of additional staff or services needed to fulfill the requirement of the proposal. Thus, the costs for this factor are unknown.
Increased Services
Additional services are mandated by this proposal including peer counseling, information and referral services, advocacy, training, and the procurement of materials and tools. This would result in additional cost over and above current services to the current population. Statistics for the program addressed in the proposal are as follows for FY 96 through FY 98:
FY 96 FY 97 FY 98
Total Served 590 831 1,025
Growth Rate FY 96 to Present 73.7%
Growth Rate FY 97 to Present 23.4%
Projected Growth Rate for Fiscal Estimate 35%
Projected Caseload for FY 2000 1,383 cases
Currently funding for recipients is limited to $500 and funds are limited to $400. It is assumed in this analysis that a per case limit of $5,000 would be allowed to provide the services and equipment specified in the proposal. This could include visual aids, counseling, housing, computer equipment (not currently provided) and other services as needed.
ASSUMPTION (continued)
It is estimated that 75% of the cases would require this level of expenditure and 25% would only need $1,000. The caseload is projected to continue to grow at the 35% rate. The DFS provided the following chart to describe the projected case expenditures:
Caseload Cases @$5,000 Cases @ $1,000 Total Cost
FY 2000 1,383 1,037 = $5,186,250 346 = $345,750 $ 5,532,000
FY 2001 1,867 1,400 = $7,001,438 467 = $466,763 $ 7,468,200
FY 2002 2,521 1,890 = $9,451,941 630 = $630,129 $10,082,070
These costs would be charged to the General Revenue Fund.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2000 | FY 2001 | FY 2002 |
| (10 Mo.) | |||
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | |||
| Costs - Department of Social Services - | |||
| Division of Family Services | |||
| Visually Impaired Assistance Payments | ($5,532,000) | ($7,468,200) | ($10,082,070) |
| Personal Services and Expense\Equipment | (Unknown) | (Unknown) | (Unknown) |
| ($5,532,000) | ($7,468,200) | ($10,082,070) | |
| ESTIMATED EFFECT ON | to | to | to |
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | (Unknown) | (Unknown) | (Unknown) |
| 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 expands the availability of services to the blind and visually impaired. The term "visually impaired" has been added where appropriate. Currently, the Division of Family Services is required to provide employment for blind and visually impaired persons or assist them in locating and retaining employment. This proposal provides that additional services
encouraging the independence of the blind and visually impaired should be provided, including referral services and the provision of food, clothing, and temporary shelter to blind or visually
impaired persons who are employed.
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 Social Services
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
March 1, 1999