Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE

REVISED FISCAL NOTE

(Replaces Fiscal Note dated January 5, 1999)

General Fund Expenditure Impact

TITLE:            CONCERNING INCREASE IN TRAVEL BENEFITS FOR SERVICE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS.

Summary of Legislation

            Under current law jurors and witnesses are paid 15 cents a mile for the trip to the location named in a subpoena. The bill would increase the travel reimbursement rate for jurors and witnesses to 22 cents and allow for payment of a person’s round trip to the location named in the subpoena, not just one way. The bill would become effective July 1, 1999.

State Expenditures

            The Judicial Branch currently pays mileage one way for a person to answer a subpoena. A five year average indicates that the judiciary pays for approximately 1,047,986 miles of travel to witnesses and jurors each year. Increasing the per mile rate by seven cents would increase costs approximately $73,359 GF. Paying for the round trip and adding a seven cent increase would increase the cost approximately $303,916 in GF annually beginning in FY 1999-00.

Spending Authority

            This fiscal note implies that the Judicial Department would require $303,916 in General Fund spending authority for FY 1999-00 to implement this bill.

Departments Contacted       Judicial

FACTS AND ASSUMPTIONS

Assumptions

1.         That the 5 year average cost paid actual mileage reimbursement costs to jurors and witnesses was $157,197.

2.         Mileage reimbursement costs are estimated to equal two times the 5 year average cost plus the 7 cent increase.