122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1935 LR 2809(03)
An Act To Protect Health Insurance Consumers
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Minority Report
   
             
Fiscal Note
Current Costs - Legislative Study
Projections Projections
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $5,950 $0 $0
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $0 $5,950 $0 $0
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 $500 $0 $0
Revenue
Other Funds ($43,700,000) ($43,700,000) ($43,700,000)
Legislative Study
The projected costs to fund the general operating expenses of the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Potential Funding Sources for the Dirigo Health Program are $5,950 in fiscal year 2006-07.  Since the Legislature's budget includes $20,000 in fiscal year 2006-07 for legislative studies and the Council has already committed this amount, a General Fund appropriation to the Legislature of $5,950 in fiscal year 2006-07 for this study has been included in this amendment.  There is also a base allocation of $500 in fiscal year 2006-07 in the event that outside funding is received to support the work of the commission. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Assumes the elimination of the savings offset payment (SOP) would reduce Dirigo Health Enterprise Fund revenue retroactive to include the refund of any FY 2005-06 collections.  For the purposes of this fiscal estimate, the 2007 SOP and future year SOPs are assumed to be equal to the 2006 SOP. While eliminating the savings offset payment, the bill does not specify savings to offset the reduction in revenues. The program does have existing authority to keep program spending within available resources.   Any additional costs to the Bureau of Insurance in the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation resulting from the bill can be absorbed by the Bureau utilizing existing budgetary resources.