The Legislative Research Council has another assignment as of Tuesday afternoon. The LRC must draft fiscal impact statements for all legislation or amendments that increase the penalty in criminal sentencing. Members of the Joint Legislative Procedures Committee make that official and add to the requirement.
Members from all three government branches met last week to hash out details concerning the mandatory fiscal impact statements. Legislative leaders say the proposed rules allow lawmakers and the public to know the costs upfront. Tuesday's move authorizes the LRC to work with the corrections department and Bureau of Finance and Management to construct these estimates. Reuben Bezpaletz with the LRC says having one method ensures consistency and balance.
“You ought to protect your own child by making sure it takes center stage and other people react to it, rather than other people who are preparing the incarceration statements having to react to volunteer testimony, which was obviously designed to influence the vote in a negative manner,” Bezpaletz says.
Bezpaletz says made-up numbers given in testimony in committee can compare to official estimates through the LRC's calculation. Officials say they can now move forward with the fiscal impact statements but know it's a work in progress.