COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION


FISCAL NOTE

 

L.R. No.:         3309-01

Bill No.:          HB 1407

Subject:           Secretary of State: Petitions, Elections

Type:              Original

Date:               January 25, 2008




 

Bill Summary:            Modifies requirements pertaining to petition circulators.



FISCAL SUMMARY


ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND

FUND AFFECTED

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Estimated

Net Effect on

General Revenue

Fund

$0

$0

$0


ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS

FUND AFFECTED

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Estimated

Net Effect on Other

State Funds

$0

$0

$0


Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 5 pages.




ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS

FUND AFFECTED

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Estimated

Net Effect on All

Federal Funds

$0

$0

$0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)

FUND AFFECTED

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Estimated

Net Effect on

FTE

0

0

0


Estimated Total Net Effect on All funds expected to exceed $100,000 savings or (cost).


Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund expected to exceed $100,000 (cost).


ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS

FUND AFFECTED

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

Local Government

$0

$0

$0








FISCAL ANALYSIS


ASSUMPTION


The Office of the Secretary of State receives an unknown number of petitions each fiscal year. Determining that each petition circulator is at least 18 years of age, is a resident of Missouri, is a registered voter, and is registered with the Secretary of State will add to the verification process.


Currently, the Secretary of State's practice regarding petitions is that each petition circulator may complete a form on the Internet. The applicant must swear or affirm their name, residential or mailing address, the name of the petition, telephone number, whether or not they are to be paid for soliciting signatures, and the name of the person from whom payment is expected. The form will be revised to accommodate this proposed new legislation.


The number of petitions received in fiscal year 2008 is six. For verification of petition circulators, the process will be to 1. Alphabetize the approximately 600 forms of potential petition circulators; 2. Enter the data; 3. Cross-check with the Missouri Centralized Voter Registration database.

Assumption: An increase of one petition per fiscal year; 12 minutes per petition circulation

840 hours per year.

600 petition circulators

  x 7 petitions

4,200 x 12 minutes per name = 50,400 minutes

50.400 minutes / 60 = 840 hours


Officials of the Office of Secretary of State - Elections assume they would need .05 FTE to handle any increase in office work from petitions filed, and would need additional equipment and supplies. Officials estimate costs for FY 2009 at $19,792; and $20,092 in FY 2010; and $20,694 in FY 2011.


Oversight assumes this proposal requires the applicant to swear and affirm that the information supplied is correct and true. This proposal does not require verification.


Oversight assumes the Secretary of State already conducts much of the work on petitions, and the changes only add 3 additional requirements, but not necessarily additional duties. Oversight assumes if a number of bills would pass that would require additional duties, the Secretary of State would reserve the right to request additional staff. Oversight assumes the Secretary of State could meet this proposals requirements with existing staff and appropriations.




ASSUMPTION (continued)


Officials of the Office of State Courts Administrator assume no fiscal impact on the Courts.


Officials of the Office of Prosecution Services assume this proposal would not have a significant direct fiscal impact on county prosecutors or the Office of Prosecution Services.


In response to identical legislation of this session, fiscal note 4169-01, SB 909, the Department of Corrections issued the following fiscal impact statement:


Officials of the Department of Corrections assume there would be no fiscal impact to the department. The proposal spells out that punishment would be in the county jail.


FISCAL IMPACT - State Government

FY 2009

(10 Mo.)

FY 2010

FY 2011

 

 

 

 

 

$0

$0

$0


FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government

FY 2009

(10 Mo.)

FY 2010

FY 2011

 

 

 

 

 

$0

$0

$0


FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business


No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.


FISCAL DESCRIPTION


The proposed legislation appears to have no fiscal impact.


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 Secretary of State - Elections

Office of State Courts Administrator

Department of Corrections

Office of Prosecution Services




















                                                                                                Mickey Wilson, CPA

                                                                                                Director

                                                                                                January 25, 2008