COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 4539-01
Bill No.: SB 1260
Subject: Motor Vehicles; Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies; Roads and Highways.
Type: Original
Date: February 27, 2004
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| General Revenue | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on General Revenue Fund |
Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| State School Moneys Fund | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on Other State Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
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 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Office of Prosecution Services, Office of the State Public Defender and the Department of Public Safety - divisions of Missouri Highway Patrol and Capitol Police each assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on their respective agencies.
In response to a similar proposal from this year, the Department of Revenue assumed the proposal would not fiscally impact their agency.
Officials from the Office of the State Courts Administrator (CTS) assume the proposal would allow an officer to stop a vehicle for non-compliance with the seat belt law if the violation is clearly visible to the officer without stopping the vehicle, and increase the fine from $10 to $25.
CTS assumes, depending on the degree of enforcement, there could be a significant increase in the number of cases filed. However, CTS has no way of estimating that increase. CTS states that any significant increase would be reflected in future budget requests.
ASSUMPTION (continued)
Officials from the Department of Transportation (MoDOT) assume the educational materials with revised law information would have to be redesigned and printed, but the cost will be absorbed by MoDOT. MoDOT officials state the federal TEA-21 reauthorization bills are currently being negotiated. One of the versions of the federal bill would allow a windfall incentive to states that pass primary seat belt enforcement laws. The maximum grant for states that enact a "safety belt use law" would be equal to 5 times the FY 2003 Section 402 formula grant. Missouri's FY 2003 grant was approximately $3.4 million. Therefore, the total incentive would be $17 million. Until a bill is passed on the federal level, the fiscal impact to MoDOT is unknown, but would be either $0 or $17 million.
Oversight assumes the incentive is prospective and dependent on future events, and has excluded these revenues from the estimate of fiscal impact.
Officials from the City of Springfield Police Department state the proposal would result in additional revenues to the city from additional tickets being issued. They estimate the additional revenues to be $1,500.
In response to a similar proposal from this year, officials from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLPD) assumed fine revenue could increase.
Officials from the St. Charles Police Department did not respond to our request for fiscal impact.
Oversight notes that increases in fines which would go to school districts would be offset by reduced payments to those districts through the State Foundation Formula.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2005
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | |||
| Savings - Reduced appropriations to State School Moneys Fund |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government (continued) | FY 2005
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| STATE SCHOOL MONEYS FUND | |||
| Savings - Reduced distributions to school districts |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
| Losses - Reduced appropriations from General Revenue Fund |
(Unknown) |
(Unknown) |
(Unknown) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE SCHOOL MONEYS FUND |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2005
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
| SCHOOL DISTRICTS | |||
| Revenues - Income from fines | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Costs - Reduced distributions from State School Moneys Fund |
(Unknown) |
(Unknown) |
(Unknown) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
Currently, law enforcement officers cannot stop, inspect, or detain any person solely because he or she failed to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt. The proposed legislation would allow law enforcement officers to stop a person for a seat belt violation if the violation is clearly visible to the officer without stopping the vehicle. Drivers in violation could be assessed a fine of $25. Currently, the fine cannot exceed $10.
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
Department of Transportation
Department of Revenue
Department of Public Safety
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Capitol Police
Office of Prosecution Services
Office of State Public Defender
Springfield Police Department
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
NOT RESPONDING: St. Charles Police Department
Mickey Wilson, CPA
Director
February 27, 2004