123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 2309 LR 3634(04)
An Act To Enhance the Security of State Credentials
Fiscal Note for House Amendment "       " to Committee Amendment "A"
Sponsor: Rep. Mills, J. of Farmington
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
2007-08 2008-09 Projections 2009-10 Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
Highway Fund $0 $1,522,431 $180,964 $56,603
Appropriations/Allocations
Highway Fund $0 ($1,528,944) ($1,252,646) ($1,377,007)
Revenue
Highway Fund $0 ($3,051,375) ($1,433,610) ($1,433,610)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This amendment removes the noncommercial driver's license fee increases, and results in a reduction of Highway Fund revenue of $3,051,375 in fiscal year 2008-09.  It also removes the provision related to developing and implementing a system for taking photographs at the time of application, instead directing the Secretary of State to study the most cost-effective way to implement this procedure, and delays implementation of participation in the Federal verification program to December 1, 2009.  The amendment also removes the allocation to the Secretary of State in fiscal year 2008-09 of $1,528,944.  
Beginning in fiscal year 2008-09, the legal presence sections of the bill will require each person applying for a driver's license to submit, in person, evidence proving legal presence.  The bill does not include a Highway Fund allocation for additional staff to handle the increased traffic in the branch offices.  This lack of new staff could result in increased waiting times for driver's license applicants.  
There will be a cost of $85,000 in fiscal year 2009-10 for one-time programming costs related to implementation of the participation in the Federal verification program.  The Secretary of State indicates that a per transaction fee will be charged by the federal Department of Homeland Security for each transaction through this verification program.  It is unknown at this time what those transaction costs may be, but it is estimated that they would be at least $110,000 based upon current traffic through the branch offices beginning in fiscal year 2009-10.