Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT


Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-545

Rep. May

 

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

February 2, 1998

House SVMA

Scott Nachtrieb (866-4752)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING THE "PAYCHECK PROTECTION ACT OF 1998", AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, PROHIBITING THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC MONEYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING POLITICAL FUNDS.



Summary of Assessment


            The bill would prohibit state agencies and political subdivisions of the state from expending any public moneys to collect or assist in the collection of political funds. The term "political funds" would be defined as all or a portion of any moneys from which contributions are made to a candidate committee, political committee, issue committee, or political party or from which expenditures or independent expenditures are made for the purpose of advocating the election or defeat of any candidate or to support or oppose any ballot initiative or referendum. An expenditure of public moneys would include compensation of a member or employee or utilization of the property, equipment, or supplies of a state agency or political subdivision. The prohibition would not be affected by any reimbursement or offer of reimbursement by any person for the cost of collection. The prohibition would include funds for any person that uses the funds for political purposes or commingles the funds with political funds. The bill would be placed on the 1998 General Election ballot upon approval by the General Assembly and would become law upon approval by the electorate at the 1998 General Election.


            It is estimated that the state is not currently collecting moneys that would qualify under this bill. However, if it were determined that the state were collecting the money, there would be a minimal workload in the accounting process to stop the collection. No additional appropriation would be required for this purpose. The bill would not change existing revenues, expenditures, or workloads for state or local governments. 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


Personnel/GGSS         Legislative Council Staff