COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 0520-04
Bill No.: SCS for SB 66
Subject: Protects parents when relinquishing custody of newborn to medical facility.
Type: Corrected
Date: February 6, 2001
# Corrected bill title.
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| General Revenue | ($179,208) | ($179,208) | ($179,208) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
($179,208) | ($179,208) | ($179,208) |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Federal | ($60,792) | ($60,792) | ($60,792) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
($60,792) | ($60,792) | ($60,792) |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Local Government | (Unknown) | (Unknown) | (Unknown) |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 4 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and Office of State Courts Administrator (CTS) assume the proposed legislation would not fiscally impact their organizations.
Officials from the Cooper County Memorial Hospital stated that without knowing who would pay medical costs for the child and what those costs would be, potential costs are unknown.
Officials from the Barton County Memorial Hospital, Cass Medical Center, Excelsior Springs Medical Center, Lincoln Country Memorial Hospital, Pemiscot Memorial Hospital, Phelps County Regional Medical Center, Ray County Memorial Hospital, Samaritan Memorial Hospital, and Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital did not respond to our fiscal impact request.
Officials from the Office of Attorney General (AGO) did not respond to our request for a fiscal impact statement. However, in a statement provided for similar legislation proposed during the current session, the AGO officials assumed the legislation would not fiscally impact their organization.
Officials from the Department of Social Services - Division of Family Services (DOS -DFS) stated the proposed legislation would fiscally impact their organization due to the long term need to inform the public, especially women of child rearing years. The DFS would need additional funding to cover costs of producing, publishing, and broadcasting this legislated information on a regular bases. The DOS officials stated that the Department of Health (DOH) has a contracted annual rate of $240,000 to have brochures, posters, television/radio ads, bus boards in metropolitan areas, and billboards produced and disseminated statewide through its TEL-LINK media campaign. This contract allows multimedia agencies, who have contracted with the State, to broadcast information statewide. Greater coverage is accessed through this contract.
The DOS officials stated the estimated fiscal impact for FY 02 was not annualized because some of the costs incurred for the media campaign are up-front fixed costs associated with the design and development of the brochures, pamphlets, and media ads. Funding not used in subsequent years for campaign development would be absorbed by inflationary increases for brochure and pamphlet printing costs and other media expenditures. Therefore, the estimated fiscal impact for FY 03 would be ($240,000) and ($240,000) for FY 04.
The DFS would distribute materials to doctor's offices, health clinics, WIC offices, all county offices (i.e., DFS, DOH, Department of Mental Health), college/university campuses, and professional associations (i.e., National Association of Social Workers, National Association of Pediatricians) across the state.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | |||
| Costs - Department of Social Services | |||
| Equipment and Expense- | |||
| TEL-LINK Media Campaign | ($179,208) | ($179,208) | ($179,208) |
| Total Costs - Department of Social Services |
($179,208) |
($179,208) |
($179,208) |
| ESTIMATED EFFECT ON | |||
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | ($179,208) | ($179,208) | ($179,208) |
|
FEDERAL FUNDS |
FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Costs - Department of Social Services | |||
| Equipment and Expense- | |||
| TEL-LINK Media Campaign | ($60,792) | ($60,792) | ($60,792) |
| Total Costs - Department of Social Services |
($60,792) |
($60,792) |
($60,792) |
| ESTIMATED EFFECT ON | |||
| FEDERAL FUNDS | ($60,792) | ($60,792) | ($60,792) |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS | |||
| Hospital - Treatment Costs | (Unknown) | (Unknown) | (Unknown) |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This proposal, known as the "Safe Newborns Act of 2001", would protect a parent from prosecution of abandonment, for leaving a newborn, who is 5 days old or younger and has not been physically abused, at a hospital. The hospital must treat the child, if necessary. The parent's voluntary delivery of the child in accordance with Section 210.950.3 shall constitute the parents implied consent that the parent does not intend to return for the child. The medical facility must contact the Division of Family Services, which would be required to take physical custody of the child within 6 hours of contact.
DESCRIPTION (continued)
The Division of Family Services must also provide information and answer questions about the process established by section 210.950 on the statewide, toll-free telephone number maintained pursuant to section 210.145, RSMo. In addition, it must provide information by way of public service announcements, or by other ways to deliver information about the process.
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
Department of Health
Office of State Courts Administrator
Cooper County Memorial Hospital
NOT RESPONDING: Attorney General's Office, Barton County Memorial Hospital, Cass Medical Center, Excelsior Springs Medical Center, Lincoln Country Memorial Hospital, Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems, Phelps County Regional Medical Center, Ray County Memorial Hospital, Samaritan Memorial Hospital, Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
February 6, 2001