COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION



FISCAL NOTE



L.R. No.: 0368-02

Bill No.: Perfected HCS for HBs 59 & 269

Subject: Corrections Dept.; Health Dept.; Mental Health; Mental Health Dept.; Social Services Dept.

Type: Original

Date: March 6, 2003




FISCAL SUMMARY



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on

General Revenue

Fund

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on Other

State Funds

$0 $0 $0





Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 4 pages.











ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on All

Federal Funds

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Local Government $0 $0 $0




FISCAL ANALYSIS



ASSUMPTION



Officials from the Department of Social Services, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, University of Missouri and Truman State University assume the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their organizations.



Officials from Missouri Southern State College (MSSC) believe the proposal would have no fiscal impact on their organization. MSSC officials state they have counselors on staff who can provide personal counseling on many issues including depression, suicide prevention and substance abuse. The MSSC is part of a state-wide coalition called Partner's In Prevention which is designed to reduce high risk drinking, participates in the National Depression Screening Day, and has online confidential screening for depression, alcohol abuse and eating disorders which students can use anytime.



Officials from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DOH) state the DOH assumes the Department of Mental Health will have the lead for the plan and will incur the cost. DOH staff will provide support in designing, coordinating and implementing the state plan with existing resources.



Officials from the Department of Mental Health (DMH) state this proposal does not require the training seen in other bills and only requires the development and submission of a state suicide prevention plan to the state legislature by December 31, 2004. Such plan development would be covered through current resources, and therefore, results in no fiscal impact to the DMH.

ASSUMPTION (continued)



Officials from the Department of Higher Education (DHE) stated the DHE's expected involvement is not defined in the proposal and therefore, the cost is unknown.



Oversight assumes since the Department of Mental Health is only required to develop a proposal for a state suicide prevention plan and submit it to the General Assembly, any costs incurred by the DHE's collaborative involvement would be minimal and, therefore, absorbable within current appropriations.



Officials from the Department of Corrections (DOC) did not respond to our request for a statement of fiscal impact. However, in response to similar legislation from the prior session, DOC officials stated it is unknown what plans may be decided on for implementation. The DOC is unsure what potential fiscal impact could result due to possible programs for employees as well as incarcerated offenders. Program development, implementation and the monitoring thereof, could result in costs as well as the need for staff. Therefore, the potential cost to the DOC is unknown at this time.



Oversight assumes potential costs to the DOC would be minimal and could be absorbed within existing resources based on the Departments of Mental Health, Elementary and Secondary Education, Health and Senior Services, and Social Services responses.



FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 2004

(10 Mo.)

FY 2005 FY 2006
$0 $0 $0





FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 2004

(10 Mo.)

FY 2005 FY 2006
$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 proposal requires the Director of the Department of Mental Health, in partnership with the Department of Health and Senior Services, and in collaboration with the departments of Social Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education, and Corrections and other appropriate agencies and organizations, design a proposed state suicide prevention plan. The requirements of the plan include: (1) Promoting the use of employee assistance and workplace programs to support employees experiencing depression or other psychiatric illnesses; (2) Promoting the use of student assistance and educational programs to support students with depression and other psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders; (3) Providing training and technical assistance to local public health and other community-based professionals on the best practices to prevent suicides; (4) Establishing a toll-free suicide prevention hotline; (5)Coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies in order to collect and analyze data on suicides and suicidal behaviors in Missouri and annually issue a public report; and (6) Recommending statutory changes and implementation and funding requirements to the General Assembly by December 31, 2004.



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



Department of Higher Education

Department of Mental Health

Department of Health and Senior Services

Department of Social Services

Missouri Southern State College

Truman State University

University of Missouri

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education



NOT RESPONDING: Department of Corrections











Mickey Wilson, CPA

Director

March 6, 2003