SB 0670 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0670 - Prohibits use of interactive computer services to display pornography or explicit sexual material to minors

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. NO. 2961-01

BILL NO. SB 670

SUBJECT: Pornography

TYPE: Original

DATE: January 19, 1998

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FISCAL SUMMARY

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
None
Total Estimated Net Effect on All State Funds	$0	$0	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
None
Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds	$0	$0	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
Local Government	$0	$0	$0

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 3 pages.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator assume the proposed legislation would not result in a significant increase in criminal prosecutions.

Officials from the Department of Public Safety -- Missouri State Highway Patrol (MHP) assume the proposal would require them to hire additional FTE to enforce the law. Due to the nature of the crime, MHP could not estimate the number of troopers that would be required. MHP further stated that the new FTE would need to be equipped with computers and access to the internet. MHP reported that the standard cost per new trooper for the first year would be $82,420 and the basic computer set-up costs would be $2,103 plus internet fees.

In response to a similar proposal last session, the Department of Public Safety -- Missouri State Highway Patrol assumed there would be no fiscal impact on their agency. Oversight assumes the fiscal impact on any given troop or county would be minimal and could be absorbed with existing resources.

Officials from the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the State Public Defender, and the Office of Prosecution Services assume the proposal would have no fiscal impact on their agencies.

FISCAL IMPACT - State Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
	$0	$0	$0
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(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

The proposal would define the crime of furnishing pornographic material to a minor as using an interactive computer service to send material pornographic for minors, with either knowledge of the age of the recipient or with reckless disregard. The proposal would also define the crime of public display of explicit sexual material as use of an interactive computer service to display explicit sexual material in a manner available to a minor and the failure to take reasonable actions to prevent same. Both crimes would be Class D felonies.

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

Office of the State Public Defender

Office of Prosecution Services

Office of the Attorney General

Department of Public Safety -- Missouri State Highway Patrol

Jeanne Jarrett, CPA

Director

January 19, 1998