123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1890 LR 2620(08)
An Act To Make Health Care Affordable, Accessible and Effective for All
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment "      " to Committee Amendment "A"
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe-Mello of Androscoggin
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
2007-08 2008-09 Projections 2009-10 Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $1,036,716 $1,513,335 $1,499,884 $1,488,169
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund ($88,000) $0 $0 $0
Other Special Revenue Funds ($273,859) ($183,279) ($192,390) ($202,002)
Dirigo Health Fund ($35,649,622) ($44,811,247) ($24,272,863) ($24,319,644)
Maine Individual Reinsurance Program Fund $0 ($18,483,552) ($18,496,694) ($18,511,467)
Revenue
General Fund ($1,124,716) ($1,513,335) ($1,499,884) ($1,488,169)
Other Special Revenue Funds ($60,443) ($81,328) ($82,272) ($81,630)
Dirigo Health Fund ($35,649,622) ($63,294,799) ($42,769,557) ($42,831,111)
Transfers
Dirigo Health Fund $0 $18,483,552 $18,496,694 $18,511,467
Maine Individual Reinsurance Program Fund $0 ($18,483,552) ($18,496,694) ($18,511,467)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The amendment would eliminate the increase in the tobacco tax and the new hospital surcharge.  Without the tobacco tax increase, the amendment does not increase General Fund revenue by $1,124,716 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $1,513,335 in fiscal year 2008-09 due to an increase in sales tax resulting from the increase in the tobacco taxes, and therefore, the amendment has a net General Fund cost. 
The amendment would effectively eliminate most of the remaining costs and revenue impact of the bill leaving minor costs that can be absorbed by the Bureau of Insurance within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation utilizing existing budget resources.