COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION



FISCAL NOTE



LR No.: 0544-06

Bill No.: HCS for SB 186

Subject: Marion County: Circuit Clerk, Ex-Officio Recorder of Deed

Type: Original

Date: April 21, 2003




FISCAL SUMMARY



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on

General Revenue

Fund

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on Other

State Funds

$0 $0 $0



Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 4 pages.











ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on All

Federal Funds

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Local Government $0 $0 $0




FISCAL ANALYSIS



ASSUMPTION



Officials of the Office of State Courts Administrator assume no fiscal impact on the Courts.



Officials of Cass and Jefferson Counties assume no fiscal impact.



Officials of the Laclede County Clerks' Office stated that they have separated the offices, and the fees provided by state law to run the offices is not sufficient. No fiscal impact statement was issued.



Oversight assumes to separate offices would require voter approval. Oversight assumes no state or local fiscal impact.



FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
$0 $0 $0


FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
$0 $0 $0


FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business



No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.



DESCRIPTION



Under current law, the Circuit Court of Marion County appoints the Circuit Clerk Ex Officio Recorder of Deeds. If the office is separated into District I Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds, the court continues to appoint the District I Circuit Clerk. This substitute makes the position of Circuit Clerk Ex Officio Recorder of Deeds an elected position. The first election of the position will take place at the 2006 general election.

The substitute also clarifies that in counties where the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Recorder of Deeds have been separated, the office of Recorder of Deeds will be elected at the next general election.

The substitute also requires that the Circuit Clerk in any county, except the City of St. Louis, operating under the nonpartisan court plan must be appointed by a majority of the Circuit Judges and Associate Circuit Judges of the Circuit Court.

The clerk may be removable for cause by a majority of these judges. The substitute becomes effective on January 1, 2004. Elected Circuit Clerks in office at that time will continue to hold their office until the expiration of their elected terms.

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

Jefferson County Commission

Cass County Commission

Laclede County Clerk







NOT RESPONDING



Marion County Officials

Boone County

Callaway County

Clay County

Franklin County

Butler County

Jasper County

Howard County

Lewis County

Lincoln County

Atchison County

Andrew County

























Mickey Wilson, CPA

Director

April 21, 2003