OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 ¯ (860) 240-0200
http: //www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
HB-5254
AN ACT CONCERNING STATE INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION AND CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION.
AMENDMENT
LCO No.: 5391
File Copy No.: 559
House Calendar No.: 371
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact: See Below
Explanation
The amendment strikes the bill and its fiscal impact and replaces it with the following.
Section 1 requires the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to develop a prevention budget, within available appropriations, to be submitted when the governor recommends her budget. It is anticipated that OPM will incur minor expenses to print the document and will need a Budget Analyst with a starting salary of $55, 000. The budget bill (HB 5845, as adopted by the House and Senate) contains $1.5 million for additional OPM staff; however it is uncertain whether funds would be used for such purpose.
Section 3 merges the Child Poverty Council with the Prevention Council and requires the council to develop a ten year plan and report on the state's progress towards meeting prevention goals within available appropriations.
Section 3 also requires each budgeted state agency (that is a member of the Council) that provides prevention services to children to report annually (commencing by 11/1/06) to the Child Poverty and Prevention Council, within each agency's available appropriation. Certain information must be presented for at least two prevention services in the 2006 report (rising to three prevention programs in 2007, four in 2008, five in 2009 and six in 2010 -2014, but not to exceed the actual number of prevention services the agency provides) . Annual reports submitted on and after 11/1/08 must include data measured by performance based standards and outcomes, which are to be developed no later than 7/1/07 under current law.
It is anticipated that each agency will be able to compile information as required in the 2006 and 2007 reports within their anticipated budgetary resources. The extent to which they will be able to meet the more comprehensive reporting mandate in 2008 and future years will depend upon departmental resources available to devote to program evaluation.
It is anticipated that the Chief Court Administrator or his designee will be able to participate as a member of the Child Poverty and Prevention Council within the Judicial Department's anticipated budgetary resources.
The preceding Fiscal Impact statement is prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for the purposes of information, summarization and explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either House thereof for any purpose.