SB 0473 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0473 - Modifies provisions relating to initiative and referendum petitions

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. NO.: 2046-01

BILL NO.: SB 473

SUBJECT: Elections: Secretary of State

TYPE: Original

DATE: March 10, 1999

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FISCAL SUMMARY

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002
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
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 of the Secretary of State stated that the additional duties this proposal would assign to their office could be accomplished with existing resources.

Officials of the State Courts Administrator would not anticipate fiscal impact on the state courts.

Officials of the Department of Corrections (DOC) stated that they could not predict the number of new commitments which could result from the creation of the offense(s) outlined in this proposal. An increase in commitments would depend on the utilization of prosecutors and the actual sentences imposed by the court. If additional persons were sentenced to the custody of the DOC due to the provisions of this legislation, the DOC would incur a corresponding increase in operational costs either through incarceration (average $35.00 per inmate, per day) or through supervision provided by the Board of Probation and Parole (average $3.50 per offender, per day).

Supervision by the DOC through probation or incarceration would result in some additional costs, but DOC officials assume that the impact would be minimal because: 1) the narrow scope of the crimes would not encompass a large number of offenders, and 2) the low felony status of the crime enhances the possibility of plea-bargaining or imposition of probation sentences.

Oversight notes that the timing of signature verification by election authorities has been changed, but the duty to verify exists.

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 change provisions of statutes governing initiative and referendum petitions by:

1) changing the penalties for signing a petition more than once or signing another person's name to a petition from a class A misdemeanor to a class D felony;

2) making knowingly offering or accepting money in exchange for a signature, knowingly filing a false statement to withdraw a signature on a petition filed with the Secretary of State, and swearing falsely on a registration form of a person circulating petitions class D felonies;

3) establishing registration requirements for persons who would circulate petitions;

4) changing the dates by which election authorities are required to verify petition signatures;

5) increasing the maximum number of words on the ballot title from 50 to 100 words; and

6) establishing an order in which ballot items, petition and legislative, would be placed on ballots.

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

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Department of Corrections

Secretary of State

State Courts Administrator

Jeanne Jarrett, CPA

Director

March 10, 1999