NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended 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 in any other situation.



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





SPONSOR: Garcia, MP DATE TYPED: 02/27/01 HB 800
SHORT TITLE: Reimburse AG's Costs of PRC Hearings SB
ANALYST: Valenzuela


REVENUE



Estimated Revenue
Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02
$ 500.0 Recurring OSF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

Office of the Attorney General

Public Regulation Commission



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 800 amends a section of the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) enabling statute that relates to the Office of Attorney General (AG) representing consumer interests in matters before the PRC. The new subsection allows the PRC to approve rates by which the AG may be reimbursed its costs for its consumer representation. The bill would require the regulated entity to pay for these costs.



Significant Issues



House Bill 800 does not create a fund in which these revenues would be deposited. The assumption is that the AG will invoice regulated utilities, however, the bill does not state this explicitly. The bill does state the revenues are appropriated to the AG and that unexpended revenues shall not revert to the general fund.



These costs may be transferred to ratepayers through increased rates.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



House Bill 800 does not carry an appropriation and does not create a new fund. The bill would require minor adjustments to current operating procedures at the AG's Office and at the PRC. The PRC would have to conduct a hearing to determine rates to be charged by the AG. However, both agencies are adequately funded to absorb these costs.



The Office of the Attorney General reports the following information regarding its caseload before the PRC and associated costs of representation for consumer interests.



AG's Activity in Consumer Representation Cases FY98 FY99 FY00 FY01
Number of Cases Before PRC 35 39 39 27*
Total Costs of Cases $221.2 $54.9 $400.8 $129.7*

* Represents information for only 6 to 7 months of fiscal year.



Telecommunications and electric industry deregulation was enacted in 1999. Consequently, the AG's caseload for FY00 and FY01 represent more probable cost estimates for the AG's activity level. For FY01, the AG has made a supplemental appropriation request of $500.0 for cases related to consumer interest representation. Based on this information, the LFC staff estimates that potential billings to entities regulated by the PRC by the AG's Office at $500.0 annually. Consequently, the AG could expect to generate this level of revenue, with enactment of the bill.



The bill specifies the revenue collected is appropriated to the Attorney General, and therefore, provides for continuing appropriations. The LFC objects to including continuing appropriation language in the statutory provisions for newly created funds. Earmarking reduces the ability of the legislature to establish spending priorities.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



Enactment of the bill would impose an added administrative burden on the AG's Office, who would be required to create, administratively, a new fund. The fund would require work for billing, collections and reconciliation of workload. However, based on the intent of the bill, the AG would be able to recoup its costs for the added administrative burden.



POSSIBLE QUESTIONS



How many hours has the Attorney General's Office accumulated in representing consumer's interest before the PRC?



MFV/ar