| 122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE | |||||||||
| LD 301 | LR 0113(01) | ||||||||
| An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Committee To Study Compliance with Maine's Freedom of Access Laws | |||||||||
| Fiscal Note for Original Bill | |||||||||
| Sponsor: Submitted by Rep. Koffman of Bar Harbor for the Committee to Study Compliance with Maine's Freedom of Access Laws pursuant to Public Law 2003, chapter 709, section 8. | |||||||||
| Committee: Judiciary | |||||||||
| Fiscal Note Required: Yes | |||||||||
| Fiscal Note | |||||||||
| Current Costs - Legislative Study | |||||||||
| Projections | Projections | ||||||||
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | ||||||
| Net Cost (Savings) | |||||||||
| General Fund | $43,698 | $43,139 | $44,433 | $45,766 | |||||
| Appropriations/Allocations | |||||||||
| General Fund | $43,698 | $43,139 | $44,433 | $45,766 | |||||
| Fiscal Detail and Notes | |||||||||
| This legislation will require a General Fund appropriation to the Department of the Attorney General in the amount of $43,698 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $43,139 in fiscal year 2006-07. This appropriation will provide funds for a half-time Public Access Ombudsman position and general operating expenses required to assist in compliance with the freedom of assess laws. | |||||||||
| Legislative Study | |||||||||
| The projected general operating expenses of this study are $5,240 in fiscal year 2005-06 and fiscal year 2006-07. The Legislature has budgeted $30,000 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $20,000 in fiscal year 2006-07 for legislative studies. Whether the amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. Also, authorizing the committee to accept funds from other sources may result in the collection of Other Special Revenue funds beginning in fiscal year 2005-06. A base allocation of Other Special Revenue funds in the amount of $500 is needed in both fiscal year 2005-06 and 2006-07 to authorize expenditures from this dedicated account. The additional costs associated with providing staffing assistance to the committee during the interim between legislative sessions can be absorbed by the Legislature utilizing existing budgeted resources. This bill also authorizes the committee to contract for administrative , professional and clerical services if funding permits. | |||||||||