Fiscal Note

HB0336S01 - Utility Costs of Deployed Servicemembers

State Impact:
Enactment of this bill would require an ongoing appropriation of $831,900 to the Division of Veterans Affairs from the General Fund beginning in FY 2008. The cost to the State to cover a portion of utitlity bills for certain deployed service members, as required by this bill, is estimated at $776,300. These amounts would vary significantly depending on the number of troops deployed at any given time. The Division of Veteran's Affairs would need additional staff estimated to cost $47,800, plus $7,800 for mailing and other current expense costs, to handle processing of the utility payments. One-time costs for office equipment and furniture, estimated at $7,500 will also be required in FY 2008.

Individual, Business and/or Local Impact:
Some utility bills would be paid for certain individual service members deployed full time through provisions of this bill. Local governments would be required to waive the cost of such service members' utility costs which they administer, not including electricity. While the number would vary from time to time, it is estimated that a total impact to local governments could be about $1.5 million.