Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT


Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-060

Rep. Morrison

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

February 7, 1998

House SVMA

Will Meyer (866-4976)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING THE IMPROPER USE OF THE INTACT DILATION AND EXTRACTION PROCEDURE TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY IN A WOMAN AS CONSTITUTING CONDUCT UNDER THE “COLORADO MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT”.


Summary of Legislation


            This bill would add a provision to the Colorado Medical Practice Act to regulate the permissible use of the intact dilation and extraction procedure to terminate a human pregnancy. The bill would define such a procedure and specify the circumstances under which such procedure may be used. The bill also would specify that a violation of its provisions would constitute “unprofessional conduct” under the provisions of the Colorado Medical Practice Act and would subject a violator to the disciplinary authority of the Colorado State Board of Medical Examiners. This bill would refer this act to a vote of the people under the referendum clause of the state Constitution. The bill would become effective following the approval of the registered voters at the next biennial regular general election.


            The bill would not have a significant impact on the workload of the staff of the board or the courts. The bill would not have any affect on any other agency of the state, or unit of local government. Therefore, this bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact.


Election Expenditure Impacts (For Informational Purposes Only)


            A General Fund line-item in the 1998-99 Long Appropriations Bill will fund the costs of publicizing any initiative or referendum proposal in newspapers and for printing and distribution of the Blue Book to all electors. The General Assembly spent $291,267 GF for one state-wide ballot proposal on the November, 1995 ballot and $1,042,014 GF for the 12 proposals that appeared on the November, 1996 ballot.


            The 1996 General Election fixed costs for mailing the Blue Book to 1.35 million registered voters was $174,036 for postage and $3,800 for obtaining mailing addresses. These costs will be the same regardless of the number of issues on the ballot. Variable costs included: Spanish translation of $11,215; newspaper publication of $644,828; printing costs of $206,806; and other costs of $1,328. Total costs were $1,042,014 GF. Fixed costs totaled $177,837 and variable costs were $72,015 per ballot issue.


            Based on the costs incurred for the 1996 Blue Book, one ballot issue cost $249,852 to print and mail to the public. The $72,015 of incremental cost would be added for each issue to the basic mailing costs of $177,837.


Departments Contacted                   Regulatory Agencies              Judicial Branch