COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. NO.: 2908-01
BILL NO.: SB 576
SUBJECT: Creates Crime of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly
TYPE: Original
DATE: December 14, 1999
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2001 | FY 2002 | FY 2003 |
| None | |||
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| 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 3 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator and Office of Prosecution Services assume that this proposal will not fiscally affect their agencies.
Officials from the Department of Social Services (DOS) did not respond to our request for fiscal impact. However, for a very similar proposal from the previous session, the DOS stated the proposal would not fiscally affect their agency.
Officials from the Office of State Public Defender (SPD) did not respond to our request for fiscal impact. However, for a very similar proposal from the previous session, the SPD had assumed that existing staff could provide representation for those 50 to 100 cases arising where indigent person were accused of "financial exploitation of the elderly as a class A misdemeanor or a class D felony." The SPD had also stated that passage of more than one similar proposal would require the SPD to request increased appropriations to cover the cumulative cost of representing the indigent accused in the additional cases.
Officials from the Department of Corrections (DOC) did not respond to our request for fiscal impact. However, for a very similar proposal from the previous session, the DOC stated the need for additional capital improvements is not anticipated at this time. They note 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.
Currently, the DOC cannot predict the number of new commitments which may result from the creation of the offense(s) outlined in this proposal. An increase in commitments depends on the utilization by prosecutors and the actual sentences imposed by the court. If additional persons are sentenced to the custody of the DOC due to the provisions of this legislation, the DOC will incur a corresponding increase in operational costs either through incarceration (average of $35 per inmate, per day) or through supervision provided by the Board of Probation and Parole (average of $3.50 per offender, per day)
Supervision by the DOC through probation or incarceration would result in some additional costs but it is assumed that the impact would be minimal.
Oversight assumes offenders placed with the DOC resulting from implementation of this proposal could be absorbed with existing resources.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
(10 Mo.)
$0 $0 $0
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
(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
This proposal creates the crime of financial exploitation of the elderly. A person commits this crime if the person is in a position of financial responsibility for an adult who is handicapped or 60 years of age or older and the person converts the adult's money or property without the adult's consent or by undue influence or misrepresentation. The crime is a Class A misdemeanor if the money or property converted has a value of $150 or less, and is a Class D felony if the value is over $150.
The proposal also allows a person who believes that an adult who is handicapped or 60 years of age or older has been a victim of financial exploitation to make a report to the Department of
Social Services.
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 Social Services
Office of State Courts Administrator
Department of Corrections
Office of State Public Defender
Office of Prosecution Services
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
December 14, 1999