COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 2904-04
Bill No.: Perfected SCS for SB 642
Subject: AIDS; Crimes and Punishment; Health Care; Health Dept.; Health, Public; Medical Procedures and Personnel.
Type: Original
Date: March 5, 2002
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2003 | FY 2004 | FY 2005 |
| General Revenue | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
(Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2003 | FY 2004 | FY 2005 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2003 | FY 2004 | FY 2005 |
| Local Government | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 4 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator assume the proposed legislation would not fiscally impact their organization.
Officials from the Department of Corrections (DOC) stated this bill requires the DOC perform hepatitis B and sexually transmitted disease testing on chapter 566, RSMo, sex offenders upon commitment, with no right of refusal. The unit cost for testing is $37 for the hepatitis B testing, which is a combination of a blood sample and an antibody test. There are approximately 350 sex offenders committed to the DOC annually. The cost for testing for hepatitis B would be an estimated $12,950 (350 x $37). Blood test supplies and courier services could add to this projection. Additional costs may also be required for DOC's victims' services. Numbers of tests performed at inmate physical exam time is an unknown amount and therefore, is not included in this note.
The DOC officials stated the DOC does not know what sexually transmitted diseases would need to be tested for under the proposed legislation. Therefore, costs for testing for these diseases is unknown.
Officials from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DOH) stated that based on the low number of convicted sex offenders, notification and testing of these individuals would be a minimal costs to the DOH.
According to the DOC in year 2000, 22 persons were convicted of rape (556.030 RSMo), 19 of sodomy (566.060), and 22 of incest (568.0202) for a total of 63 offenders. Applying a rate of 1%* of the total 63 offenders, would yield 1 infected with either hepatitis B or other sexually transmitted disease. Assuming the infected offender would have 1-2 victims this would bring the total to 65 individuals requiring a test for hepatitis B and other sexually transmitted diseases. One hepatitis B ELISA tests cost $15, the allowed two ELISA tests would be $30. Each offender already receives screening for HIV and syphilis. To additionally screen each offender for gonorrhea and chlamydia would cost $10 for a dual test. The total cost of new testing equals $40 multiplied by the 65 individuals would result in a total of $2,600. The State Public Health Laboratory would absorb these laboratory-testing costs and DOH currently has a program in place to notify partners of infected offenders, resulting in no fiscal impact to the department.
* A CDC study found a 1% hepatitis B carrier rate for incarcerated individuals. MMWR, June 29, 2001, Vol 50; No 25. Of the 16,000 inmates entering MDOC each year, less than 1% are infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2003
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2004 | FY 2005 |
| GENERAL REVENUE | |||
| Costs - Department of Corrections | |||
|
Hepatitis B Testing of Sex Offenders |
(Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) |
|
Total Cost - Department of Corrections |
(Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) |
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE |
(Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) | (Unknown exceeding $12,950) |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2003
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2004 | FY 2005 |
| $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 act requires Hepatitis B and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing of crime victims and prisoners. New Sections 191.224 and 191.660 are substantially similar to current Sections 191.226
and 191.659, RSMo, but relate to Hepatitis B and STD testing, instead of HIV testing. Section 191.224 allows the Department of Health and Senior Services to pay for the cost of Hepatitis B and STD tests for crime victims and Section 191.659, RSMo, requires hepatitis B and STD testing of sex offenders in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
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
Department of Corrections
Department of Health and Senior Services
Mickey Wilson, CPA
Acting Director
March 5, 2002