COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 0527-02
Bill No.: SB 59
Subject: DSS; Creates "Adoption Awareness Law" to promote adoption as alternative.
Type: Original
Date: January 8, 2001
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| General Revenue | ($89,338) | ($94,868) | ($97,525) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
($89,338) | ($94,868) | ($97,525) |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| None | |||
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Local Government | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 4 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Department of Social Services - Division of Family Services (DFS) and Office of Administration (COA) stated the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on their organization.
Officials from the Office of Secretary of State (SOS) stated this bill requires the Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health to promulgate rules to implement the Adoption Awareness Law. Based on experience with other divisions, the rules, regulations and forms issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education could require as many as approximately 22 pages in the Code of State Regulations. For any given rule, roughly half again as many pages are published in the Missouri Register as in the Code because cost statements, fiscal notes and the like are not repeated in the Code. These costs are estimated. The estimated cost of a page in the Missouri Register is $23.00. The estimated cost of a page in the Code of State Regulations is $27.00. The actual costs could be more or less than the numbers given. The impact of this legislation in future years is unknown and depends upon the frequency and length of rules filed, amended, rescinded and withdrawn. Therefore, the officials from the SOS estimated the fiscal impact for FY 2002 to be $1,353 [(22 pgs. X $27) + (33 pgs. X $23)].
Oversight assumes the SOS could absorb the cost of printing and distributing the regulations related to this proposal. If multiple bills pass which require the printing and distribution of regulations at substantial costs, the SOS could request funding through the appropriation process. Any decisions to raise fees to defray costs would likely be made in subsequent fiscal years.
Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) stated the legislation requires the DOH to collect resource materials and establish and promote education materials on adoption. The legislation specifies what should be in the information, but does not specify the extend of the promotion.
At a minimum, the DOH could obtain informational brochures from the Department of Social Services (DOS) and distribute the material to organizations on DOH's existing mailing lists. This would meet the requirements of the legislation, but would not provide widespread promotion of adoption. According to DOS, the information required in the handouts is not combined in one place. New materials would need to be developed in collaboration with DOS. The DOH would use its existing Tel-Link program to meet the requirements of a toll-free telephone number. Brochures from DOS would have to be modified and would need to include the toll-free number.
ASSUMPTION (continued)
Additional funds would be needed if a statewide campaign were initiated to promote adoption. The brochures and information would need to be produced and distributed in a greater number. Also, advertising would need to be purchased and the DOH would need to contract for the services of developing and coordinating the campaign. The DOH estimates the costs of advertising to be up to $197,506 for FY 02, up to $209,528 for FY 03, and up to $209,813 for FY 04.
Based on fiscal note responses from the Department of Social Services (DOS) and the Department of Health (DOH) for similar legislation proposed in 2000, Oversight assumes the DOS and DOH could jointly prepare a pamphlet that addresses adoption and foster care as an alternative to abortion. Although this pamphlet does not currently exist and would need to be developed, the DFS could be responsible for printing the pamphlets through State Printing. Distribution of the pamphlets would be the responsibility of the Division of Maternal Child and Health (DMCH), within the DOH, thereby splitting the costs.
Oversight assumes, based on the DMCH FY 2001 response, there would be approximately 25,500 mailings to include private adoption agencies, DOH physicians, family planning clinics, DOH clinics, abortion clinics, and any other person or entity that requests such materials. If 50 pamphlets were provided to the 25,500 entities per year, on a black and white tri-fold brochure, the cost for printing would be approximately $39,398. No new employees were expected to be needed and the costs would be charged to the General Revenue Fund. Printing costs would be approximately $40,580 and $41,797 for FY 03 and FY 04, respectively.
Oversight assumes the DOH estimated costs of postage for an initial mailing to all doctors, family planning clinics, prenatal clinics, privately funded adoption agencies, Title X agencies, abortion facilities, and any other person or entity who requests such material at $47,940. Subsequent mailing to the estimated 25,500 entities would result in postage expense of $54,106 and $55,729 for fiscal years 2003 and 2004, respectively.
|
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government |
FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | |||
| Costs - Department of Social Services | |||
| Printing Pamphlets | ($39,398) | ($40,580) | ($41,796) |
| Costs - Department of Health | |||
| Postage and Supplies | ($49,940) | ($54,106) | ($55,729) |
TOTAL ESTIMATED EFFECT ON
GENERAL REVENUE FUND ($89,338) ($94,686) ($97,525)
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| $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 "Adoption Awareness Law" to promote adoption. Section 191.975 outlines the education and promotion duties of the Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health within the Department of Health with the cooperation of 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
Department of Health
Office of Administration
Office of Secretary of State
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
January 8, 2001