COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH OVERSIGHT DIVISION FISCAL NOTE L.R. No.:4416H.02C Bill No.:HCS for HB 2587 Subject:Economic Development; Department of Economic Development; Business and Commerce Type:Original Date:March 8, 2022Bill Summary:This proposal establishes the Regulatory Sandbox Act. FISCAL SUMMARY ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUNDFUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025 General Revenue Fund* Unknown to Could Exceed ($201,053) Unknown to Could Exceed ($235,092) Unknown to Could Exceed ($239,202) Total Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Unknown to Could Exceed ($201,053) Unknown to Could Exceed ($235,092) Unknown to Could Exceed ($239,202) *Oversight notes that this proposal provides for waiving of regulations (depending upon sandbox participants) potentially resulting in a loss to general revenue, various state funds, and to local political subdivisions. Additionally, this proposal may require department FTE that could potentially result in an impact to the General Revenue. Lastly, the positive amount shown represents payment for application fees ($300) which must be paid on order to participate in the Sandbox program. ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025Various State Funds $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown)$0 or (Unknown)Total Estimated Net Effect on Other State Funds $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown)$0 or (Unknown) Numbers within parentheses: () indicate costs or losses. L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 2 of March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds $0$0$0 ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)FUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025General Revenue Fund 2 FTE 2 FTE2 FTE Total Estimated Net Effect on FTE2 FTE 2 FTE2 FTE ☒ Estimated Net Effect (expenditures or reduced revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act. ☒ Estimated Net Effect (savings or increased revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act. ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2023FY 2024FY 2025Local Government $0 or (Unknown)$0 or (Unknown)$0 or (Unknown) L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 3 of March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD FISCAL ANALYSIS ASSUMPTION Officials from the Office of Administration – Budget & Planning note: An applicant shall remit to the regulatory relief office an application fee of five thousand dollars per application for each innovative offering. It is not specified in the bill where this money will be deposited, therefore B&P assumes it will be GR. This will have an unknown positive impact on GR and TSR. This bill would also provide that during the demonstration period, a sandbox participant shall not be subject to the enforcement of state laws or regulations identified in the written agreement between the regulatory relief office and the sandbox participant. There is not enough information on what laws or regulations may be waived or what impact the waiver will have on TSR. Oversight notes that an applicant shall remit to the regulatory relief office an application fee of $300 (changed from $5,000 in original bill) per application for each innovative offering. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a potential positive fiscal impact on State Funds for this application fee. Oversight, for the purpose of this fiscal note, retrieved average patent filings in the State of Missouri to estimate how many entrepreneurs would potentially be participating in this pool. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office – Patent Technology Monitoring Data (PTMT) there were on average 868 patents filed by Missourians annually between FY 2000 to FY 2015. Oversight notes that the proposal assesses a $300 fee that must be paid in order to participate in this program. Oversight assumes that the fee structure could potentially result in additional revenue of $260,400 ($300 x 868 potential innovative entrepreneurs). Therefore, for purpose of this fiscal note, Oversight will reflect a positive unknown amount to the General Revenue Fund Oversight assumes that the fee paid to participate will be remitted to the GR, for purpose of this fiscal note, and as shown above the amounts collected could potentially exceed $250,000. Officials from the Department of Revenue (DOR) note: The proposal would create a new government entity, the “regulatory relief office,” which may enter into agreements to essentially waive the requirements of Missouri’s statutes and regulations on certain participating businesses. The proposal directs the regulatory relief office to consult with applicable agencies, including concerning whether the applicable agency has previously investigated, sanctions, or pursued legal action against the applicant. The proposed legislation prohibits these agreements from exempting an applicant “from any income, property, or sales tax liability unless such applicant otherwise qualifies for an exemption from such tax.” L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 4 of March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD Should a participant in this program, be allowed to not pay taxes this will impact state revenue and DOR. DOR has numerous other tax types besides the income tax and sales tax exempted under this proposal. Examples include, withholding tax, tire and battery fee taxes, use taxes and more that do not appear protected under this proposal. Additionally, this regulatory relief office is given authority to waive state law and regulations. DOR is concerned this would result in filing deadlines being moved or changed for some filers and not others or payments being waived. Additionally, this proposal requires the agencies to provide information on DOR’s relationships with a participating business to the regulatory relief office. Some of this information is currently protected under DOR's confidentially laws. At this time, DOR is unable to estimate a fiscal impact from this proposal. DOR could possibly need additional FTE to work with the regulatory relief office depending on the number of participants, as well as have losses to revenue if participants are allowed to not pay taxes. Oversight notes DOR assumes the proposal would allow for selected companies, who participate in the Sandbox program, to receive relief from various taxes which would have an effect on General Revenues and Other State Funds. Additionally, the DOR assumes the need for additional FTE to ensure compliance with this proposal. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a potential ($0 or) unknown negative impact to the General Revenue and Other State Funds, as a result of reduction in a various tax revenues and potential FTE costs, in the fiscal note. Officials from the Department of Economic Development (DED) assume the proposal states that the regulatory relief office will be administered by a sandbox program director. DED has estimated personal service costs by taking a mid-range salary of a typical Program Director (Designated Principal Assistant) at DED who oversees an office but does not supervise staff. DED also believes additional review (e.g., reviews of state laws) would require a legal counsel FTE. If DED determines that additional staff are needed to administer the sandbox program, DED will request additional FTE through the normal budget process. Oversight notes that DED assumes the proposal will have a direct fiscal impact on their organization. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect an unknown cost for the DED’s FTE in the fiscal note. Officials from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) assume the proposal will have an unknown fiscal impact on their organization and could potentially affect MDC funds. Oversight notes that the Conservation Sales Tax funds are derived from one-eighth of one percent sales and use tax pursuant to Article IV Section 43 (a) of the Missouri Constitution, thus MDCs sales taxes are constitutional mandates. L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 5 of March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD Additionally, Oversight notes the Park, Soil, and Water Sales Tax funds are derived from the one-tenth of one percent sales and use tax pursuant to Article IV Section 47 (a) thus DNR’s sales taxes are constitutional mandates. Therefore, Oversight will reflect the fiscal impact estimates for DNR’s funds. Therefore, Oversight will reflect the MDC’s and DNR’s fiscal impact estimates in the fiscal note. Officials from the Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) assume the proposal, specifically Sections 620.3900 - 620.3930, would have an unknown impact to DCI depending on the number of businesses and individuals that would request to participate in the Sandbox Program. Oversight notes that changes in the HCS exempt the Division of Professional Registration. DCI assumes this proposal would have a direct fiscal impact on other areas of their organization. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a negative unknown impact to various state funds in the fiscal note. Oversight notes that there are few examples of various agency costs in similar Sandbox proposals filed in the States of Utah, Ohio, Nebraska, Nevada, and the Arizona. Each fiscal note addresses the difficulty of projecting any costs associated with the proposals. However, recent fiscal note submitted to the Nebraska Legislature for consideration of similar bill LB 1127 (Nebraska Sandbox proposal - 2022) from various agencies claiming costs associated with the proposal, are provided in the Table 1. Oversight notes that the Missouri Sandbox proposal requires, among other duties, the Administrator to: being of consumers agencies and other states Oversight notes that there are many other duties required from the Sandbox Office under this proposal. Therefore, it is probable that the agencies tasked with the regulatory implementation of this program, such as DOR or DED, will need additional FTEs in order to provide the regulatory framework and compliance procedures for this Act. L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 6 of March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD Oversight notes that Missouri population is at least 3 times greater (6.6M – Missouri population / 1.94M –Nebraska Population) than that of Nebraska, thus the costs could potentially reach a higher level of expenditure in Missouri. Therefore, for purpose of this fiscal note, Oversight will note an unknown negative impact to the General Revenue and Other State Funds, which could potentially exceed $250,000 in various FTE and forgone tax revenue costs to various state funds in the fiscal note. Table 1. Officials from the Attorney General’s Office, the Hearing Commission, the Office of Administration – Director’s Office, the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Office of the State Auditor each assume the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their organizations. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for these agencies. Officials from the City of Kansas City, the City of O’Fallon, the City of Springfield, and the City of Claycomo each assume this proposal would not have a direct fiscal impact on their respective organizations. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for these local political subdivisions. Oversight notes each county and city assess sales or use tax on the sale of goods in Missouri. The tax remitted to a various local political subdivisions serves the local political subdivision needs. DOR assume the companies could receive relief from various taxes. This could have an effect on the local political subdivisions. Therefore, Oversight will note a potential unknown A GENCY F Y 2023 F Y 2024 D epartment of Economic Development 5 20,380.00 $ 6 41,930.00 $ D epartment of Banking and Finance 2 23,025.00 $ 2 15,325.00 $ B oard of Engineers and Architects 3 ,300.00 $ 3 ,300.00 $ D epartment of Environment and Energy 2 02,371.00 $ 2 02,371.00 $ D epartment of Agriculture 7 7,500.00 $ 7 7,500.00 $ L iquor Control Commission NFI NFI N o Fiscal Impact N o Fiscal Impact M otor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board No discernable impact No discernable impact N o Discernable impact N o Discernable impact N ebraska State Electrical Division Indeterminable Indeterminable I ndeterminable I ndeterminable B oard of Barber Examiners Indeterminable Indeterminable I ndeterminable I ndeterminable A ttorney General NFI NFI N o Fiscal Impact N o Fiscal Impact N ebraska Real Estate Commission Negligible to significant Negligible to significant N egligible to Significant N egligible to Significant S upreme Court NFI NFI N o Fiscal Impact N o Fiscal Impact D epartment of Labor NFI NFI N o Fiscal Impact N o Fiscal Impact D epartment of Administrative Services 7 1,200.00 $ 7 7,000.00 $ D epartment of Insurance 1 68,900.00 $ 1 73,317.00 $ T otal 1 ,127,776.00 $ 1 ,217,426.00 $ F TE total 9 .5 1 0.5 L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 7 of March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD negative impact to the local political subdivision funds in the fiscal note, depending upon sandbox participants and applications. Officials from the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules assume this proposal is not anticipated to cause a fiscal impact beyond its current appropriation. Officials from the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) note many bills considered by the General Assembly include provisions allowing or requiring agencies to submit rules and regulations to implement the act. The SOS is provided with core funding to handle a certain amount of normal activity resulting from each year's legislative session. The fiscal impact for this fiscal note to the SOS for Administrative Rules is less than $5,000. The SOS recognizes that this is a small amount and does not expect that additional funding would be required to meet these costs. However, the SOS also recognizes that many such bills may be passed by the General Assembly in a given year and that collectively the costs may be in excess of what the office can sustain with its core budget. Therefore, the SOS reserves the right to request funding for the cost of supporting administrative rules requirements should the need arise based on a review of the finally approved bills signed by the governor. Oversight assumes SOS is provided with core funding to handle a certain amount of activity each year. Oversight assumes SOS could absorb the costs related to this proposal. Therefore, Oversight will reflect zero fiscal impact on the fiscal note for above agency. L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 8 of March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD FISCAL IMPACT – State GovernmentFY 2023 (10 Mo.) FY 2024FY 2025GENERAL REVENUE FUNDRevenue Gain – $300 Fee Paid to participate in the program (p.3) §620.3915.2 $0 or Unknown $0 or Unknown $0 or Unknown Cost – Reduction in Revenues – various tax not paid (p.4) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) Cost – DOR– FTE necessary to comply with the proposal (p.5) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) Costs – DED FTE Personnel Service($118,757)($145,358)($148,265) Fringe Benefits($64,469)($78,318)($79,293) Expense & Equipment($17,827)($11,416)($11,644)Total Costs - ($201,053)($235,092)($239,202)FTE Change2 FTE2 FTE2 FTE NET EFFECT ON THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND Unknown to Could exceed ($201,053) Unknown to Could Exceed ($235,092) Unknown to Could Exceed ($239,202) OTHER STATE FUNDS Loss of Revenues - to various State Funds – various tax not paid (p.4) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) NET EFFECT ON THE OTHER STATE FUNDS $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 9 of March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD FISCAL IMPACT – Local GovernmentFY 2023 (10 Mo.) FY 2024FY 2025LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS Loss of Revenues - to various local funds –various tax not paid (p.4) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) NET EFFECT ON THE LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) FISCAL IMPACT – Small Business Small businesses, who will participate in the Sandbox program, will be able to receive potential tax reductions resulting in revenue gains. FISCAL DESCRIPTION This bill establishes the "Regulatory Sandbox Act", which creates the Regulatory Relief Office within the Department of Economic Development. The Regulatory Relief Office shall administer the provisions of the bill with the purpose of identifying state laws or regulations that could potentially be waived or suspended for participating businesses during a 24 month period in which the participating business demonstrates an innovative product offering to consumers. The Regulatory Relief Office shall maintain a web page on the Department's website that invites residents and businesses to make suggestions regarding laws and regulations that could be modified or eliminated to reduce the regulatory burden of residents and businesses in the state (Section 620.3905, RSMo). The Regulatory Relief Office shall be responsible for evaluating and approving or denying applications to participate in the Sandbox Program. An applicant shall submit an application along with a $300 application fee to the Regulatory Relief Office, which shall include contact information and a description of the innovative offering to be demonstrated, including statements regarding how the innovative offering is subject to licensing, legal prohibition, or other authorization requirements outside of the Sandbox Program; each law or regulation that the applicant seeks to have waived or suspended while participating in the Sandbox Program; how the innovative offering would benefit consumers; what risks might exist for consumers who use or purchase the innovative offering; and other required information, as described in the bill. No later than five business days after the day on which a completed application is received by the Regulatory Relief Office, the Office shall review the application and refer the application to each applicable agency, as defined in the bill that regulates the applicant's business. No later than 30 days after the day on which an applicable agency receives a completed application for review, the applicable agency shall provide a written report to the Sandbox Program director with the L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 10 of 11 March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD applicable agency's findings, including any identifiable, likely, and significant harm to the health, safety, or financial well-being of consumers that the relevant law or regulation protects against, and a recommendation to the Regulatory Relief Office that the applicant either be admitted or denied entrance into the Sandbox Program. An applicable agency may deny an application for reasons described in the bill. The Regulatory Relief Office shall not approve any application denied by an applicable agency (Section 620.3915). Upon the receipt of a report from all applicable agencies, the Regulatory Relief Office shall provide the application and associated reports to the "General Regulatory Sandbox Program Advisory Committee", which is created by the bill. The Advisory Committee shall be composed of eight members, as described in the bill including one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, one member of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tem and three members of the public or an institution of higher education appointed one each by the Governor, the President Pro Tem, and the Speaker. The Advisory Committee shall advise and make recommendations to the Regulatory Relief Office on whether to approve applications to the Sandbox Program, and may meet at its own discretion to override a decision of the Regulatory Relief Office on the admission or denial of an applicant to the Sandbox Program, provided such override is decided with a majority vote of the members of the Advisory Committee, and further provided that such vote shall be taken within 10 business days of the Regulatory Relief Office's decision. Meetings of the Advisory Committee shall not be considered public meetings for the purposes of the Sunshine Law (Section 620.3910). Upon approval of an application, a Sandbox participant shall have 24 months after the day on which its application was approved to demonstrate the innovative offering described in the Sandbox participant's application. During such period, the Sandbox participant shall be exempt from the laws and regulations outlined in an agreement entered into with the Regulatory Relief Office. Innovative offerings shall only be available to consumers who are residents of this state, and no law or regulation shall be waived or suspended if such waiver or suspension would prevent a consumer from seeking restitution in the event that the consumer is harmed. A Sandbox participant shall not be subject to prosecution or administrative penalty for a violation of any law or regulation that is waived or suspended during the duration of the participant's demonstration period (Section 620.3920). Prior to demonstrating an innovative offering, a Sandbox participant shall disclose certain information to consumers, as described in the bill (Section 620.3925). At least 30 days prior to the end of a participant's demonstration period, the participant shall notify the Regulatory Relief Office that it either intends to exit the Sandbox Program or that it seeks an extension. The Regulatory Relief Office may grant an extension not to exceed 12 months, and a participant may seek additional extensions. If a demonstration includes an innovative offering that requires ongoing services or duties beyond the 24 month demonstration period, the participant may continue to demonstrate the offering, but shall be subject to all laws and regulations that were waived or suspended as part of the Sandbox Program. L.R. No. 4416H.02C Bill No. HCS for HB 2587 Page 11 of 11 March 8, 2022 BB:LR:OD A Sandbox participant shall retain certain records for a period of 24 months after exiting the Sandbox Program. The Regulatory Relief Office shall establish quarterly reporting requirements for each participant, and each participant shall notify the Regulatory Relief Office and each applicable agency of any incidents that result in harm to the health, safety, or financial well-being of a consumer. No later than 30 days after a Sandbox participant exits the Sandbox Program, such participant shall submit a written report describing an overview of the demonstration. No later than 30 days after receiving such report, an applicable agency shall provide a written report to the Regulatory Relief Office that describes any statutory or regulatory reform the applicable agency recommends (Section 620.3930). This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Attorney General’s Office Office of Administration – Budget & Planning Office of Administration – Administrative Hearing Commission Office of Administration Missouri Department of Conservation Department of Natural Resources Department of Revenue Missouri Department of Transportation Joint Committee on Administrative Rules Office of the Secretary of State City of Kansas City City of O’Fallon City of Springfield City of Claycomo Julie MorffRoss StropeDirectorAssistant DirectorMarch 8, 2022March 8, 2022