Fiscal Note - SB 0057 - Department of Corrections Work Programs
L.R. NO. 0482-01
BILL NO. SB 57
SUBJECT: Prisons and Jails
TYPE: Original
DATE: January 8, 1997
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
None $0 $0 $0
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
State Funds $0 $0 $0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
None $0 $0 $0
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
Local Government $0 $0 $0
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials of the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Labor &
Industrial Relations assume this proposal would not fiscally impact their
agency.
Officials of the Department of Corrections (DOC) assume that this proposal in
part duplicates Section 217.337 RSMo which states that "all general
population offenders shall be expected to adhere to a schedule of activities
of work and rehabilitative programs as prescribed for the offender by the
department. This schedule of activities may include, but shall not be
limited to: 1) Academic education programs; 2) Vocational training
programs; 3) Treatment programs; and 4) Employment". At present, the
Department of Corrections employs all general population inmates by the least
expensive means to the taxpayers of Missouri. Those inmates who are eligible
to work outside the facility (low-risk offenders) work full-time in the
community without chains. All other offenders (high security inmates) work
within the facility because they do not meet the eligibility criteria for
community work. Therefore, all offenders currently work the greatest
possible number of hours at the lowest cost to taxpayers, while ensuring the
safety of Missouri's citizens.
Officials of DOC assume that this proposal permits the establishment of work
programs, as determined by the department, but does not require the
department to implement such programs; and therefore has not shown any fiscal
impact to their department from this proposal. Several state agencies along
with numerous counties and municipalities statewide utilize DOC inmates to
augment their operations. If the department were to implement provisions of
this legislation as authorized, such as the use of shackles and chains on
inmates working in the community, DOC officials feel the productivity of the
inmates providing assistance to these organizations would be reduced.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
(10 Mo.)
0 0 0
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
(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 authorize the Department of Corrections to institute work
programs for offenders. The rules for this program would allow for shackles
and chains to be used on the offenders involved, and to require that such
offenders wear distinctive uniforms.
Certain offenders would not be allowed to participate in programs developed
pursuant to this proposal. These are offenders who have been convicted of:
1) first degree murder; 2) first degree assault; 3) forcible rape; and 4)
forcible sodomy. No work performed by an offender under this proposal would
be considered employment for purposes of unemployment compensation or
workers' compensation benefits.
This legislation is not federally mandated, and would not require additional
capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Corrections
Office of the Attorney General
Department of Labor & Industrial Relations
This Fiscal Note is not an official copy and should not be quoted or cited.