127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 9 LR 218(01)
An Act To Retain Call Centers in Maine
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
Sponsor: Rep. Short of Pittsfield
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Potential current biennium revenue increase - General Fund
Potential current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
FY 2015-16 FY 2016-17 Projections  FY 2017-18 Projections  FY 2018-19
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $22,567 $36,138 $37,184 $38,271
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $22,567 $36,138 $37,184 $38,271
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The Department of Labor will require General Fund appropriations totaling $22,567 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $36,138 in fiscal year 2016-17 to implement the requirements of this legislation.  Of this amount, General Fund appropriations of $12,567 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $26,138 in fiscal year 2016-17 to the Bureau of Labor Standards will be required for a portion of the personal services cost for one Labor and Safety Inspector position associated with enforcing the notification requirements and collecting the fines assessed.  Additionally, General Fund appropriations of $10,000 in fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 to the Workforce Research program will be required for the maintenance of a database of employers who have relocated a call center or a facility or operating unit handling at least 30% of call volume within a call center, from the State to a foreign country.  This preliminary fiscal impact statement assumes a January 1, 2016 effective date.
Requiring those employers that have received state grants, state guaranteed loans or state tax benefits and have relocated a call center, or one or more facilities or operating units within a call center handling at least 30% of the call center's total call volume, from the State to a foreign country to remit the unamortized value of the state grant, state guaranteed loan or tax benefit may result in increased General Fund or Other Special Revenue Funds revenue to the State beginning in fiscal year 2015-16.  Assessing a fine of $350 for each day that an employer fails to notify the State of its intention to relocate a call center may also increase General Fund revenues beginning in fiscal year 2015-16.  The amount of additional revenue to be received will depend on the number of fines assessed and the value of the grants, loans or tax benefits remitted.
The Department of Administrative and Financial Services anticipates additional costs associated with this bill.  These are not anticipated to be significant.