COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 987-02
Bill No.: Perfected SB 258
Subject: Courts: Fees, Libraries, Counties
Type: Original
Date: February 21, 2001
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Local Government | Unknown to ($1,000,000) | Unknown to ($1,000,000) | Unknown to ($1,000,000) |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 4 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials of the State Courts Administrators Office stated that this proposal would have fiscal impact to local governments. Officials stated that this proposal sets a mandatory Circuit Court library fee of $15 (Currently, the fee is "not to exceed fifteen dollars"). Officials stated they do not know how much increased income might accrue from those courts that are assessing less than $15.00, but it would be local income. Oversight will show this income as Unknown.
Court officials stated this proposal repeals the authority for courts to spend earnings on the Court's Registry accounts and repeals the provision that balances be turned over to the County's General Revenue Fund. Officials assume there would be two impacts to Counties: 1) a source of money for court operating expenses would be eliminated, which would increase reliance on other county revenue; and 2) the county would lose a source of revenue because the transfer of fund balance to the County's General Revenue Fund is repealed. Officials stated that statistics on registry accounts in the counties are not centrally reported, however, officials estimate the loss to the county's budgets on a statewide basis at at least $1,000,000 in any year, and could be greater.
Officials of the Jackson County Court Administrator's Office assume this proposal would require all deposits with the Court to be placed in individual interest-bearing trust accounts. Officials stated they have thousands of small filing fee deposits, garnishment payments, and other types of deposits made with the Court annually. The administrative impact to establish a separate account for each deposit would be prohibitive. Interest earned on these types of deposits are insignificant.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| $0 | $0 | $0 |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| COUNTIES GENERAL REVENUE | |||
| FUND | |||
| Income to Certain Counties | |||
| from fee revenue | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Loss to Certain Counties | |||
| from repeal of Section 483.310 | ($1,000,000) | ($1,000,000) | ($1,000,000) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO | |||
| COUNTIES | Unknown to ($1,000,000) | Unknown to ($1,000,000) | Unknown to ($1,000,000) |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This proposal would require Circuit Clerks to deposit funds other than those collected pursuant to subsection 2 of Section 488.012, RSMo, into certain types of savings accounts as specified in the law. Current law requires a Court order to be made before deposits are made.
This proposal repeals lanuage that allows investment income to be spent on employee bonds, safety deposit box rent, publications of the Missouri Bar, and other items as listed in the law. Any balance of funds would no longer be deposited into the County's General Revenue Fund.
This proposal would require any party filing a civil case pay a mandatory fifteen dollar surcharge at the time of filing their case. Current law allows Circuit Clerks to charge a fee up to, but not exceeding fifteen dollars.
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 State Courts Administrator
Jackson County Circuit Court Administrator
NOT RESPONDING:
The Circuit Clerks of : Cole, Callaway, Boone, Platte, Jasper, Greene, and St.Charles Counties
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
February 21, 2001