COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 0679-05
Bill No.: SB 325
Subject: Department of Conservation; Licenses-Professional; Agriculture & Animals
Type: Original
Date: February 14, 2001
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| PR Fees Fund | ($16,050) | $16,050 | $0 |
| Registered Foresters Fund | $0 | $23,698 | $48,558 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
($16,050) | $39,748 | $48,558 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| None | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 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 5 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials with the Department of Economic Development-Division of Professional Registration (DPR) assume the proposal will result in the licensure of 300 foresters in the State of Missouri. DPR assumes that fees will be $500 for initial licensure and annual renewal. A growth rate of 3% has been estimated.
It is assumed that the PR Fees Fund will be reimbursed by the Registered Foresters Fund for all expenses incurred on behalf of the Board of Registered Foresters.
DPR assumes that the proposal will require the hiring of an additional 1.5 FTE, consisting of a 0.5 Principal Assistant (0.5 FTE at $48,240 per year) to serve as the senior executive officer of the agency, and one Licensure Technician II (1 FTE at $24,492 per year) to provide technical support to the Principal Assistant and process applications for licensure. Hiring is not expected to occur until FY 2003. Office and communication expenses are based on estimated existing costs within the Division and follow Office of Administration guidelines. DPR further assumes that space for these employees will be rented at a cost of $4,050 per year. Oversight assumes these employees will be located in existing office space and has not included this cost in the fiscal impact.
The State Board of Registered Foresters created by this act will consist of seven members. DPR estimates that the Board will meet four times per year for two days per meeting. Per diem reimbursement of $50 per day for each member will total $2,800 annually. Travel expenses (mileage, meals, and lodging) are estimated at $9,598 annually. Meetings are expected to begin in FY 2002.
DPR anticipates that 15 complaints per year will be received. An average complaint is expected to require 5 hours to complete. DPR assumes that two investigations per year will be required, with travel expenses of $510 annually. It is estimated that one investigation per year will be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for further action, at a cost of $5,400 per year. Complaints and investigations are not expected until FY 2004.
DPR expects the Office of the Attorney General to also provide 60 hours per year of assistance with rules, opinions, and meetings, at a cost of $60.87 per hour, for a total cost of $3,652 annually.
Postage and printing costs are estimated by DPR at $6.19 per licensee, per year, for a total annual cost of $1,857, beginning in FY 2003. Existing staff will design, program, and implement a computer licensure program at an estimated cost of $173.
DESCRIPTION (continued)
The Board will be required to reimburse the Division and the Department of Economic Development for its portion of administrative overhead, based on the percentage of licensees served by the Board, with a minimum of 0.5%. The Board's share of these expenses will be $10,644 annually. Oversight assumes these costs will not be reimbursed until FY 2003.
This bill creates the Board of Registered Foresters within the Division of Professional Registration. The Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) assumes this board will promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this bill. Based on experience with other divisions, the rules, regulations and forms issued by the Board of Registered Foresters could require as many as approximately 36 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 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.
Oversight assumes the SOS could absorb the costs of printing and distributing 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 Office of the State Treasurer, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Conservation, the Department of Revenue, the Office of the State Courts Administrator, the Office of Prosecution Services, the Office of the State Public Defender, and the Office of Administration-Administrative Hearing Commission assume negligible or no fiscal impact from the proposal. The Cole County Circuit Court did not respond to our request for a fiscal note. Oversight assumes minimal or no fiscal impact to the Court as a result of the proposal.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| REGISTERED FORESTERS FUND | |||
| Income-DPR
License Fees/Renewals |
$0 |
$150,000 |
$154,500 |
| Costs-Transfer to PR Fees Fund | $0 | ($126,302) | ($105,942) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO
REGISTERED FORESTERS FUND: |
$0 |
$23,698 |
$48,558 |
| PR FEES FUND | |||
| Income-DPR
Transfer from Registered Foresters Fund |
$0 |
$126,302 |
$105,942 |
| Costs-DPR
Personal Service (1.5 FTE) |
($2,800) |
($53,873) |
($55,150) |
| Fringe Benefits | $0 | ($17,023) | ($17,448) |
| Expense & Equipment | ($9,598) | ($24,887) | ($13,648) |
| Other Fund Costs/AGO Costs | ($3,652) | ($14,469) | ($19,696) |
| Total Costs-DPR | ($16,050) | ($110,252) | ($105,942) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO
PR FEES FUND: |
($16,050) |
$16,050 |
$0 |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| $0 | $0 | $0 |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
This bill would have a direct fiscal impact on small businesses providing forestry services.
DESCRIPTION
This act would require the registration of foresters. The State Board of Registration of Foresters is created, and will consist of seven members including the State Forester, the Chair of the Forestry Department of the State University, and five registered foresters appointed by the governor for staggering terms of five years. The Board of Registered Foresters Fund is created for the deposit of funds received pursuant to this act. All persons practicing forestry are required to register. Certain activities are excluded from the requirement to register including allowing employees of the federal government and Private Land Division of the Department of Conservation in connection with their assigned duties to conduct forestry education programs or provide free forestry advice and assistance to timberland owners.
Registered foresters must: hold a degree in forestry, pass a written examination, have three years experience, and be a person of good character and reputation. The Board is authorized to promulgate rules regarding application for registration, examinations, registration fees, renewals, continuing education requirements, and discipline of registered foresters. This act would make it
DESCRIPTION (continued)
illegal for persons to practice or offer to practice forestry without being registered. This violation as well as violations of any of the provisions of this act will be a Class A misdemeanor.
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 Economic Development
Division of Professional Registration
Office of the Secretary of State
Office of the State Treasurer
Department of Agriculture
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Conservation
Department of Revenue
Office of Administration
Administrative Hearing Commission
Office of the State Courts Administrator
Office of Prosecution Services
Office of the State Public Defender
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
February 14, 2001