COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 3862-02
Bill No.: SCS for SB 923
Subject: Children and Minors: Department of Social Services
Type: Original
Date: March 18, 2002
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2003 | FY 2004 | FY 2005 |
| General Revenue | (Unknown, could exceed $116,250) | (Unknown, could exceed $120,085) | (Unknown, could exceed $120,688) |
| Criminal Record System | ($4,167) | ($5,000) | ($5,000) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
($4,167 to could exceed 120,417) | ($5,000 to could exceed $125,085 | ($5,000 to could exceed $125,688 |
| 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 5 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials of the Department of Public Safety - Highway Patrol and the Department of Health and Senior Services stated that the proposal would not fiscally affect their agencies.
Officials of Department of Social Services - Division of Family Services and the Department of Health and Senior Services noted that foster parents automatically registered for the Family Care Safety Registry would no longer pay to register. DOS forwards the five-dollar ($5.00) fee to the Highway Patrol for background screening.
Officials of the Secretary of State (SOS) stated that this proposal would modify various provisions relating to foster care. The Division of Family Services would promulgate rules to implement the proposal. Based on experience with other divisions, the rules, regulations and forms issued by the Division of Family Services could require as many as 36 pages in the Code of State Regulations. For any given rule, roughly half again as many pages are published in Missouri Register as in the Code because cost estimates and fiscal notes are not repeated in the Code. The estimated cost of a page in the Missouri Register is $23. The estimated cost of a page in the Code of State Regulations is $27. The estimated cost of publication in FY 2003 for this proposal is $2,214. Actual cost could be more or less and costs in future years would depend upon frequency and length of rules filed, amended, rescinded or withdrawn.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 of Department of Social Services' Division of Youth Services stated that the Division
uses services of foster parents for some hard to place youths. The Division provides support services but does not provide formal training. Officials estimate cost of training at $925 per family for twenty-seven (27) hours of training (Division of Family Services' cost for foster parent training). They note that the Division places twenty (20) or fewer persons in foster care each year. Assuming training would be provided via an arrangement with Division of Family Services, costs would be about $19,500 per year.
Officials of the Department of Mental Health (DMH) note that the proposal would require the Department to conduct an assessment of children referred to it by the Department of Social Services or the courts and to provide any appropriate treatment indicated by that assessment. They stated that their Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) has waiting list of 637 for residential services and 1,586 for outpatient services. This proposal could result in Department of Social Services and court referrals "jumping" the waiting lists.
ASSUMPTION (continued)
DMH officials anticipate looking to private providers for additional bed capacity for the children's residential services as well as requiring community mental health service providers to increase their children's services capacity. They assume private providers would have additional capacity required and would not be able to refuse referrals.
DMH officials can not anticipate the number of referrals which would be made under terms of the proposal. They did provide a list of costs per 100 new referrals for:
CPS residential services: 100 referrals x 365 (day length of stay) x $125/day = $4,562,500
CPS non-residential services: 100 referrals x 365 days x $42/day = $1,533,000
ADA residential services: 100 referrals x 39 (day average length of stay) x $57/day = $222,300
ADA non-residential services: Unknown. Cost depends on type of services provided
MRDD residential services: 100 referrals x 365 (day length of stay) x $65/day = $2,372,500
MRDD non-residential services: 100 referrals x average yearly outpatient services cost of $3,369/person = $336,900
Oversight notes that as few as ten referrals requiring CPS residential services for 90 days would cost over $100,000.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2003
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2004 | FY 2005 |
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | |||
| Cost - Department of Social Services' Division of Youth Services | |||
| Expense- Foster Parent Training | ($16,250) | ($20,085) | ($20,688) |
| Cost - Department of Mental Health | |||
| Expense- Assessment and Treatment of children referred by court and Department of Social Services | (Unknown, could exceed $100,000) | (Unknown, could exceed $100,000) | (Unknown, could exceed $100,000) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND | (Unknown, could exceed $116,250) | (Unknown, could exceed $120,085) | (Unknown, could exceed $120,688) |
| CRIMINAL RECORD SYSTEM FUND | |||
| Loss - Fees from Family Safety Care Registry | ($4,167) | ($5,000) | ($5,000) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON CRIMINAL RECORD SYSTEM FUND | ($4,167) | ($5,000) | ($5,000) |
| 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 business would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This proposal would set out the rights and responsibilities of the state, its contractors and foster parents with regard to foster care services.
This proposal would automatically register any person licensed under terms of sections 210.481 to 210.565 (Homes for Children - Foster Homes - Child Placing Agencies - Licensing) in the Family Care Safety Registry.
This act would allow the Division of Family Services to make reasonable efforts when a child is abused by a person other than the parent and circumstances indicate the parent knew or should have known about it. Section 211.183, RSMo, currently defines "reasonable efforts" as reasonable diligence and care by the Division of Family Services to utilize all available resources to meet the needs of the juvenile and the family.
This proposal would allow the Department of Social Services or the courts to refer children to the Department of Mental Health for assessment and the Department of Mental Health would provide appropriate care if the assessment indicates that a child needs care.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space. This legislation would affect Total State Revenue.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Social Services
Division of Family Services
Division of Youth Services
Department of Mental Health
Department of Public Safety
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Mickey Wilson, CPA
Acting Director
March 18, 2002