Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE

REVISED FISCAL NOTE

No State General Fund Impact

(Replaces Fiscal Note dated January 6, 1998)

State Cash Fund Expenditure Impact

Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-245

Sen. Bishop

Rep. Entz

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

February 17, 1998

Senate Appropriations

Steve Tammeus (866-2756)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING THE ELIMINATION OF THE YEARLY LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF PER DIEMS PAID TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUND WATER COMMISSION.


Summary of Legislation


STATE FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY

FY 1998/99

FY 1999/2000

State Revenues

General Fund

Other Fund



 



 

State Expenditures

General Fund

Ground Water Management Cash Fund



$900



$900

FTE Position Change

None

None

Local Government Impact — None


            The Ground Water Commission under the Department of Natural Resources is comprised of 12 members; nine appointed by the Governor, plus the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources, the State Engineer, and the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The commission is required to conduct at least four meetings per year.


            Under current law, members may be paid for actual and necessary expenses and a per diem of $25 per day. Current law does not limit the total amount of annual actual and necessary expenses but does limit the total amount of annual per diem to not exceed $1,200. If all 12 members attend four one-day meetings per year, the total annual per diem liability would be $1,200.


            This bill, as amended by the Senate Agriculture Committee (Senate Journal, Friday, January 23, 1998, page 86), eliminates the $1,200 annual per diem cap and increases the per diem from $25 to $50 to be paid to all commission members for all commission meetings attended. This bill would become effective upon the signature of the Governor.


            This bill will increase state cash fund expenditures. Therefore, the bill is assessed as having a state fiscal impact.




State Expenditures


            Under current law, all members of the Ground Water Commission are eligible to be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses, and be paid per diem at a rate of $25 per day for all commission meetings attended.


            In actuality, the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources, the State Engineer, and the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board are currently not being paid expenses or per diem. The remaining nine members were paid reimbursable expenses in the amount of $5,158 and per diem in the amount of $1,000 during FY 1996-97. The State Engineer does not anticipate any increase in the number of commission meeting days per year.


            Per the provisions of this bill, the total additional per diem expenditure for FY 1998-99 and FY 1999-2000 is estimated to be $900 Ground Water Management Cash Fund. This estimate is based upon the assumptions that: 1) the commission will continue to meet four days per year, 2) nine commission members will be eligible for per diem; and 3) and the per diem will be increased by $25. The department will be able to absorb these additional costs within existing resources.



Spending Authority


            This fiscal note would imply that no additional appropriations are required for FY 1998-99 to implement the provisions of this bill.



Departments Contacted


            Natural Resources