Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE

FISCAL IMPACT


Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 99-0767

Rep. Tool

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

March 22, 1999

House HEWI

Steve Tammeus (866-2756)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION THEREFOR.


Fiscal Impact Summary

FY 1999/2000

FY 2000/2001

State Revenues

Cash Fund Exempt


$1,100,000


Gifts, Grants

State Expenditures

General Fund Transfer

Cash Fund Exempt


$1,100,000

$1,100,000



 

FTE Position Change

0.0 FTE

0.0 FTE

Other State Impact: None

Effective Date: 90 days after adjournment unless a referendum petition is filed.

Appropriation Summary for FY 1999-2000:

Department of Human Services - $1,100,000 - Cash Fund Exempt

Local Government Impact: None



Summary of Legislation


            This bill establishes the "Community Food Distribution Program Act" and requires the Department of Human Services to implement a Community Food Distribution Program to provide funds to food banks and emergency food providers to assist certain low-income individuals and families in the state. The bill requires the department to contract with food banks and emergency food providers for the purchase, transportation, storage, and distribution of nutritional food products to program participants. The bill specifies eligibility requirements for those contacts. The bill authorizes the department to accept gifts, grants, or awards of funds from the state or federal government or from private sources.


            The bill creates the Community Food Distribution Fund to consist of any gifts, grants, or awards, and any moneys appropriated from the General Fund by the General Assembly. Any unexpended moneys in the fund at the end of a fiscal year are to remain within the fund. Investment earnings of the fund are to be credited to the General Fund. The bill appropriates $1,100,000 from the General Fund to the Community Food Distribution Fund for allocation to the Department of Human Services for FY 1999-2000.

State Revenues


            This bill authorizes the Department of Human Services to accept gifts and grants to fund the costs of the program. The amount of those gifts and grants, as donations, would be exempt from TABOR state revenue considerations. The amount of those donations has not been estimated.


            This bill specifies that the investment earnings of the Community Food Distribution Fund are to be credited to the state General Fund. This fiscal note assumes the amount of any investment earnings will be minimal due to the assumption the entire fund balance will be expended during FY 1999-2000.



State Expenditures


            The Department of Human Services currently provides staff to operate the Food Distribution Program within the Food Assistance Division. The department anticipates the program administrative requirements proposed by this bill to be similar to those of the existing program. Additionally, the department currently monitors food bank agencies that receive commodities through the Emergency Food Assistance Program as well as the distribution of federal administrative grant monies to those agencies. As a result, the department anticipates the costs to administer the provisions of this bill will be minimal and can be absorbed within existing resources.


            The bill appropriates $1,100,000 from the state General Fund to the Community Food Distribution Fund. Of this amount, $100,000 is anticipated to cover the administrative costs of the food banks and emergency food providers.


            This fiscal note assumes this food distribution program will require additional future appropriations. The amounts of those future appropriations have not been estimated.



State Appropriations


            This bill would require a General Fund appropriation of $1,100,000 to the Community Food Distribution Fund for FY 1999-2000. Of this amount, the Department of Human Services would require a cash fund exempt appropriation of $1,100,000.



Departments Contacted


            Human Resources