SB 0719 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0719 - DUTIES OF CERTAIN COUNTY OFFICIALS

L.R. NO.  2794-02
BILL NO.  Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed SCS for SB 719
SUBJECT:  Salaries:  Public Administrators and Circuit Clerks
TYPE:     Original
DATE:     May 17, 1996



                              FISCAL SUMMARY
                    ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS


FUND AFFECTED              FY 1997             FY 1998           FY 1999

General Revenue         ($375,878)          ($770,549)        ($789,812)

Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
State Funds             ($375,878)          ($770,549)        ($789,812)


                   ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS


FUND AFFECTED              FY 1997             FY 1998           FY 1999

Federal Funds              $52,180            $107,480          $110,693

Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
Federal Funds              $52,180            $107,480          $110,693


                    ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS


FUND AFFECTED              FY 1997             FY 1998           FY 1999

Local Government                $0                  $0                $0


                              FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator (CTS) assume the
proposed legislation would provide for a $5,000 increase in the statutory
salary of circuit clerks, except in the City of St. Louis, and impose a duty
requiring circuit clerks to assist prosecutors and the Division of Child
Support Enforcement in criminal non-support cases.  There are 114 circuit
clerks who would be affected by this proposal.  CTS officials report the
initial full-year direct costs would be $575,000 plus fringe benefits.

Officials from the Department of Social Services - Child Support Enforcement
(DOS) estimate that this proposal would result in an increase in funds paid
by DOS to CTS for child support activities in the approximate amount of
$162,848 per full fiscal year.  DOS assumes this proposal would also have a
fiscal impact on the transaction-based methodology that has been federally
approved for determining reimbursement to the state for the circuit clerks'
IV-D activities.  DOS officials estimate that their federal fund
reimbursement would be increased by approximately $107,480 per fiscal year as
a result of this proposal.


DOS anticipates that this proposal would result in little or no increase in
state funds resulting from increased collections of child support payments.

In response to a similar proposal, officials from the Office of Prosecution
Services assumed there would be no fiscal impact on county prosecutors.

Officials from the Office of Administration - Division of Accounting and the
Department of Revenue assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal
impact on their agencies.


FISCAL IMPACT - State Government           FY 1997     FY 1998     FY 1999
                                           (6 Mo.)

GENERAL REVENUE FUND

Income - State Courts Administrator (CTS)
   Incremental Increase in Reimbursement
   for Child Support Activities from DOS  $ 79,061    $162,848    $167,716

Cost - CTS
   Salary Increase (115 FTE)            $(287,500)  $(589,375)  $(604,109)
   Fringe Benefits                       ( 88,378)   (181,174)   (185,703)
   Total Cost - CTS                     ($375,878)  ($770,549)  ($789,812)

Cost - Department of Social Services (DOS)
   Incremental Increase in Reimbursement
   for Child Support Activities to CTS  ($ 79,061)  ($162,848)  ($167,716)

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON
GENERAL REVENUE FUND                    ($375,878)  ($770,549)  ($789,812)


FEDERAL FUNDS

Income - DOS
   Federal Reimbursement                   $52,180    $107,480    $110,693

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT
ON FEDERAL FUNDS                           $52,180    $107,480    $110,693


FISCAL IMPACT  - Local Government          FY 1997      FY 1998    FY 1999
                                          (10 Mo.)

                                                $0           $0         $0


DESCRIPTION

The proposed legislation would add the public administrators in all counties
to the county salary commissions.  Currently, only public administrators in
first class counties are members of the salary commission.  In addition, the
public administrator in all counties would be a public officer when
performing duties under Chapter 473 (Administration of Decedents' Estates),
Chapter 474 (Intestate Succession and Wills), and Chapter 475 (Guardianship),
RSMo.  Under the current subsection 2 of Section 473.730, RSMo, only the
Jackson County public administrator is a public officer.

The proposed legislation would also raise the annual salary for all circuit
clerks by $5,000, except for the clerk in the City of St. Louis.  The
increase would be considered compensation for the added duty of cooperating
with Child Support Enforcement.  The effective date for these salary
increases would be January 1, 1997.

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
Department of Social Services - Child Support Enforcement
Office of Prosecution Services
Office of Administration - Division of Accounting
Department of Revenue