SUBJECT: Prisons and Jails; Health Care, Counties
TYPE: Original
DATE: February 5, 2000
Net Effect on All State Funds
FUND AFFECTED
FY 2001
FY 2002
FY 2003 General Revenue
($1,500,000)
($1,500,000)
($1,500,000)
Total Estimated
($1,500,000)
($1,500,000)
($1,500,000)
| 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 | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses
This fiscal note contains 3 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Office of Attorney General assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on their agency.
Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator assume the proposed legislation would require the state to reimburse counties for medical expenses paid for convicted inmates' care during jail stay. The general rule has been that, when the state has a statutory obligation to pay, and there is no clear agency responsibility, it becomes an Office of Administration function.
Officials from the Office of Administration assume, based on information obtained from the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center, approximately 15,000 prisoners were received by the state from counties during 1999. It is assumed that at any given time, there may be as many as 15,000 prisoners held in county jails on state charges that may be found guilty; the state will be liable for costs. It is not known what the average cost of medical services provided to such prisoners might be. A conservative estimate of $100 per prisoner would increase the state's annual criminal bill of cost payment by $1,500,000.
Officials from the St. Louis County Correctional Medical Facility assume 10% of their patients represent state offenders being held by the county. During 1999, the cost of health services for the facility totaled $3,012,342. Oversight assumes the costs to treat state offenders at the St. Louis County Correctional Medical Facility ($301,234) are included in the estimate provided by the Office of Administration.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
(10 Mo.)
GENERAL REVENUE
Costs - Office of Administration
Medical Expenses ($1,500,000) ($1,500,000) ($1,500,000)
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
(10 Mo.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Income - Medical Expense Reimbursements $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact on small businesses would be expected due to this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
The proposed legislation would require the state to pay counties for health care costs of state prisoners.
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 Administration
Office of State Courts Administrator
Office of Attorney General
St. Louis County Correctional Medical Facility
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
February 5, 2000