COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 4322-01
Bill No.: SB 1317
Subject: Funerals and Funeral Directors; Health Department; Health, Public; Hospitals; Physicians; Vital Statistics
Type: Original
Date: March 8, 2004
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on General Revenue Fund |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| Missouri Public Health Services Fund | $42,500 | ($955) | ($31,916) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
$42,500 | ($955) | ($31,916) |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 5 pages.
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| Local Government | $1,458,333 | $1,750,000 | $1,750,000 |
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Secretary of State, the Department of Economic Development - Division of Professional Registration, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Social Services assume this proposal would not fiscally impact their agencies.
Officials from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DOH) state that this proposal allows electronic creation and access to birth and death records. DOH states this would result in more timely and efficient registration and copy issuance process of birth and death records.
Based on 2003 birth and death certified and research copies, DOH estimates income of approximately $315,000 per year from an average range of 105,000 records per year multiplied by $3 fee that would go to the Missouri Public Health Services Fund. This proposal would make 90 year old birth records and 50 year old death records available.
The DOH would need to purchase web-based software for processing birth and death records. DOH estimates this software will cost approximately $1,100,000 and will be paid for over a period of 5 years.
The system will be modified to conform to the state's e-Government standards. A Computer
Information Tech Specialist II would be hired midway through the second year to act as the ASSUMPTION (continued)
program manager.
Oversight has, for fiscal note purposes only, changed the starting salary for the Computer Information Tech Specialist II to correspond to the second step above minimum for comparable positions in the state's merit system pay grid. This decision reflects a study of actual starting salaries for new state employees for a six month period and the policy of the Oversight Subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Legislative Research.
DOH states local public health agencies will have an increase in revenue. Based on an estimate of 583,333 records issued annually, local public health agencies will show an increase in revenue of $1,458,333 in the first year and approximately $1,750,000 in subsequent years.
Officials from St. Louis City Medical Examiner, the Boone County Medical Examiner, Callaway County Medical Examiner, St. Louis City Health Department, Boone County Health Department, Cole County Health Department, Greene County Health Department, and Callaway County Health Department did not respond to our fiscal note request.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2005
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| MISSOURI PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FUND | |||
| Income - Department of Health and Senior Services | |||
| Vital record fee | $262,500 | $315,000 | $315,000 |
| Costs - Department of Health and Senior Services | |||
| Personal Service (1 FTE) | $0 | ($22,208) | ($45,527) |
| Fringe Benefits | $0 | ($9,194) | ($18,848) |
| Expense and Equipment | ($220,000) | ($284,553) | ($282,541) |
| Total Costs - Department of Health and Senior Services |
($220,000) |
($315,955) |
($346,916) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON MISSOURI PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FUND |
$42,500 |
($955) |
($31,916) |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2005
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| LOCAL FUNDS | |||
| Income - Local public health agencies | |||
| Vital Records fees | $1,458,333 | $1,750,000 | $1,750,000 |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS |
$1,458,333 |
$1,750,000 |
$1,750,000 |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This proposal seeks to improve access to vital records compiled by the Department of Health and Senior Services. Current law requires a signature on vital records prescribed by physicians, hospitals, and funeral homes. This proposal allows physicians, hospitals, and funeral homes to either sign the vital record or submit it electronically in a process approved by the DOH.
Reproductions of vital records must be of durable material, must accurately reproduce the original records, and must be retained in accordance with the standards of the State Records Commission. Birth records over ninety years old and death records over fifty years old shall be transferred to the Missouri State Archives and may be disclosed upon request. However, disclosure will not include original sealed birth records.
The fee for copies of vital records is increased from ten dollars to thirteen dollars. For every vital record fee collected, three dollars will go to the Public Health Services Fund and, upon appropriation, will be used for automating Missouri's vital records system and developing an electronic birth and death registration system. The electronic birth and death registration system will be implemented by December 31, 2008.
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
Secretary of State
Department of Economic Development -
Division of Professional Registration
Department of Revenue
Department of Social Services
Department of Health and Senior Services
NOT RESPONDING: St. Louis City Medical Examiner, the Boone County Medical Examiner, Callaway County Medical Examiner, St. Louis City Health Department, Boone County Health Department, Cole County Health Department, Greene County Health Department, and Callaway County Health Department
Mickey Wilson, CPA
Director
March 8, 2004