SB 0807 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0807 - PSC Commissioners & Staff Not to be Emp. by Regulated Util.

L.R. NO.  3101-01
BILL NO.  SB 807
SUBJECT:  Public Service Commission
TYPE:     Original
DATE:     January 29, 1996



                              FISCAL SUMMARY
                    ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS


FUND AFFECTED              FY 1997             FY 1998           FY 1999
None

Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
State Funds                     $0                  $0                $0

                   ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS


FUND AFFECTED              FY 1997             FY 1998           FY 1999
None

Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
Federal Funds                   $0                  $0                $0

                    ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS


FUND AFFECTED              FY 1997             FY 1998           FY 1999
Local Government                $0                  $0                $0


                              FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials of the Department of Economic Development - Public Service
Commission and Public Counsel, Offices of the Attorney General, State Courts
Administrator and the Missouri Ethics Commission assume that this proposal
would have no fiscal impact to their agencies.

Officials of the Department of Corrections (DOC) stated that no data exists
to determine the number of people that might be prosecuted under the
provisions of this proposal.  DOC officials assume that few, if any, class D
felony convictions would result in incarceration.  Punishment for these types
of crimes often result in fines, jail time, community-based sanctions or
probation.  Probation would result in some additional costs for supervision,
but it would be minimal due to the limited scope of the crime.

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

                                       0         0         0

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

                                       0         0         0

DESCRIPTION

Current law prohibits members of the Public Service Commission (PSC), the
Public Counsel and employees of the PSC and Public Counsel from suggesting,
to a regulated utility, the employment of any person,  and regulated
utilities are prohibited from offering employment or any thing of value to
members of the PSC, the Public Counsel and employees of the PSC and the
Public Counsel.  This proposal would require the Missouri Ethics Commission
to receive complaints alleging any violation of these requirements.  Any
employee found to have violated these requirements would be terminated from
employment, subject to appeal as provided by law and that person would not be
eligible for further employment by the state of Missouri.  Any commissioner
found to have violated these requirement would be removed from office by the
Governor.

This proposal would prohibit every PSC commissioner, the Public Counsel and
every person employed or appointed to office, either by the PSC or the Public
Counsel for a period of two years following the termination of his office or
employment by the PSC or by the Public Counsel from accepting any employment
by any regulated utility.  Any person guilty of knowingly violating this
requirement would be guilty of a class B misdemeanor for the first offense
and a class D felony for the second and subsequent offenses.  It contains
penalty provisions.

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 Corrections
Department of Economic Development - Public Service Commission
Department of Economic Development - Public Counsel
Missouri Ethics Commission
Office of the Attorney General
State Courts Administrator