SUBJECT: Crimes and Punishment
TYPE: Corrected*
DATE: January 7, 2000
*To correct bill number
($100,000) ($100,000) ($100,000) Net Effect on All State Funds ($100,000) ($100,000) ($100,000)
FUND AFFECTED
FY 2001
FY 2002
FY 2003
General Revenueless than
less than
less than
Total Estimated
less than
less than
less than
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2001 | FY 2002 | FY 2003 |
| None | |||
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2001 | FY 2002 | FY 2003 |
| Local Government | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses
This fiscal note contains 4 pages.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Department of Public Safety - Missouri State Highway Patrol, Office of Prosecution Services, and Office of the Attorney General assume there would be no fiscal impact to their agencies as a result of this proposal.
Officials from the Office of the State Public Defender (SPD) assume that existing staff could provide representation for those stealing cases arising where the indigent persons were charged with escalated felonies due to the amount of dollars involved. However, passage of more than one similar bill would require the State Public Defender System to request increased appropriations to cover the cumulative cost of representing the indigent accused in the additional cases.
Officials of the Office of the State Courts Administrator (CTS) stated that this proposal would increase the penalty for some stealing offenses and lower the threshold for certain felony theft. CTS would not anticipate a significant impact on the workload of the judiciary.
In response to a similar proposal last session, officials from the Department of Corrections (DOC) assumed the proposal lowers the value threshold from $750 to $425, thereby lowering the value by which stealing becomes a class C felony. This could result in more offenders being convicted of a class C felony and could impact the length of stay of offenders sentenced to confinement.
Currently, the DOC cannot predict the impact that could result from the raising and lowering of these value thresholds on the number of offenders sentenced to incarceration or to a period of probation, but it is assumed that the impact would be $0 or a minimal amount that could be absorbed within existing resources.
The need for additional capital improvements is not anticipated at this time. It must be noted that the cumulative effect of various new legislation, if adopted, could result in the need for additional capital improvements funding if the total number of new offenders exceeds current planned capacity.
The total ten year fiscal impact would be unknown, but DOC officials assumed the fiscal impact would be $0, or a minimal amount that could be absorbed, per year.
Oversight assumes the proposal could result in more offenders being incarcerated or placed on probation.
ASSUMPTION (continued)
Additional costs for supervision and care by the DOC, although unknown, would
likely be less than $100,000 annually.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
less than less than less than
($100,000) ($100,000) ($100,000)
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
0 0 0
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact on small businesses would be expected due to this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This proposed legislation would establish stealing, class D felony, for property valued between $150 and $425; class C felony, $425 or more; separate felonies for theft of materials associated with the manufacture of meth reduced from $750 to $150; receiving stolen property carries same penalty as stealing.
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
Department of Corrections
Office of Prosecution Services
Office of State Public Defender
Department of Public Safety - Missouri State Highway Patrol
Office of State Courts Administrator
Office of the Attorney General
NOT RESPONDING: Department of Corrections
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
January 7, 2000