COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 0902-01
Bill No.: SB 298
Subject: County Government; Corrections Department; Counties; Prisons and Jails
Type: Original
Date: February 10, 2001
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| General Revenue | ($1,500,000) | ($1,500,000) | ($1,500,000) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
($1,500,000) | ($1,500,000) | ($1,500,000) |
| 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 | $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 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 Department of Corrections, it is estimated that at any time there may be as many as 15,000 prisoners in county jails that ultimately will be sentenced and delivered to the State Department of Corrections. 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 Office of Greene County Sheriff assume the proposed legislation would provide annual savings to Greene County of over $200,000, resulting from savings in the staff physician and corrections officers' salaries and reduced outside medical expense.
In response to a similar proposal from the 2000 session (SB 892), officials from the Office of Attorney General assumed the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on their agency.
In response to a similar proposal from the 2000 session (SB 892), officials from the Office of Cole County Sheriff assumed the proposed legislation will provide an annual savings in medical costs of $55,000 with an adjustment for inflation at the rate of approximately 4.5% in subsequent years.
In response to a similar proposal from the 2000 session (SB 892), officials from the St. Louis County Correctional Medical Facility assumed 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), as well as the medical costs reported by the Office of Cole County Sheriff and the Office of Greene County Sheriff are included in the estimate provided by the Office of Administration.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | |||
| Costs - Office of Administration | |||
| Medical Expenses | ($1,500,000) | ($1,500,000) | ($1,500,000) |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Income - Medical Expense Reimbursements |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
The proposed legislation would require the state to pay counties for necessary and reasonable medical expenses in addition to the per diem cost of incarceration 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
St. Louis County Correctional Medical Facility
Office of Cole County Sheriff
Office of Greene County Sheriff
NOT RESPONDING: Office of Attorney General
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
February 10, 2001