NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for other purposes.

 

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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Stewart

 

DATE TYPED:

 

 

HB

178

 

SHORT TITLE:

Children of Prisoners Project

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Chabot

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$125.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Related to SJM-15

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Juvenile Parole Board (JPB)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 178 appropriates $125.0 from the general fund to CYFD for the purpose of establishing a pilot project, in a county selected by the department, to provide counseling, education and transportation services to children of incarcerated parents.  Two FTE with master’s degrees in social work will staff the program.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The intent of the bill is unclear as whether it is a program for youth of parents in CYFD facilities or youth with parents incarcerated in any facility throughout the state.  JPB supports the bill but bases it support on a program for parents in CYFD facilities.  They also recommend that an option for contracting out with a private organization could be considered.

 

 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $125.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year shall revert to the general fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

If the intent is to serve all children of incarcerated parents, CYFD would have to establish relationships with the Corrections Department, county and other officials to identify incarcerated individuals with children in need of services. 

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

The state personnel classification system identifies social workers as social and community service coordinators.  To be consistent, in lines 19 and 20, strike “to hire two master’s level social workers” and replace with for two full-time equivalent social and community service coordinators who have a master’s degree in social work”.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

CYFD is unsure if the two social workers would have to administer the program or whether contract assistance would be allowed.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. Should this program be administered by the Corrections Department who would have records on incarcerated parents in the state penal system?
  2. If it is considered more effective, can CYFD contract out this program?

 

GAC/yr :prr