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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Development Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC)

Governor's Committee on Concerns of the Handicapped (GCCH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

This bill establishes the Barrier Removal Fund (BRF) and appropriates $5 million from the general fund to it and provides that gifts, grants, donations earnings from investment of the Fund and any other money credit to the Fund shall remain in the Fund. Money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the Legislature to the Governor's Committee on Concerns of the Handicapped (GCCH) to assist local governments in the removal of architectural barriers in public spaces, including curb cuts for sidewalks.

Significant Issues

Communities have to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which requires removing architectural barriers in public areas that limit accessibility to individuals with disabilities. DDPC states that larger communities in the state are able to comply with the act while smaller communities have problems obtaining the funding to do the modifications. This bill would provide funding. GCCH states that all projects would be reviewed by their barrier removal staff for compliance with ADA prior to approving funds for projects. DDPC recommends limiting grants to communities to cities under 40,000 people while GCCH makes no such recommendation.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

To establish baseline data, two output measures are recommended:

Output Number of communities requesting funding from the barrier removal fund:

Output Number of projects funded by the barrier removal fund:

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $5,000.0 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general fund to the BRF. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance shall not revert. The bill allows for future appropriations to be made to the Fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

GCCH will have to develop policies and procedures for administering the Fund and managing the program. Award criteria will have to be established and application forms devised. A selection committee will need to established, or the GCCH itself, be designated to make selections and awards to applicants.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The bill does not appropriate monies from the Fund to GCCH for use in fiscal year 2002. GCCH will have to compile a list of candidates for consideration for funding from the BRF and submit it to the forty-fifth legislature, second session so that appropriations from the Fund can be made for expenditure in fiscal year 2003.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

• Is it the intent of the bill to wait until fiscal year 2003 for expenditures be made from the Fund?



• Should GCCH be authorized to charge directly related administrative expenses to the Fund?



• Is it intended that GCCH establish criteria for projects to be funded from the BRF or should that be established within the legislation?



• Should there be limits of the size of communities allowed to request funding from the BRF?




GAC/ar/njw