Fiscal Note & Local Impact Statement
127 th General Assembly of Ohio
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BILL: |
DATE: |
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STATUS: |
SPONSOR: |
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LOCAL IMPACT
STATEMENT REQUIRED: |
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CONTENTS: |
Requires the
use of the English language by state and local government entities in
official actions and proceedings and specifies other related requirements |
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STATE FUND |
FY 2009 |
FY 2010 |
FUTURE YEARS |
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General Revenue Fund and
Other State Funds |
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Revenues |
- 0 - |
- 0 - |
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Expenditures |
Potential minimal savings
in document production costs |
Potential minimal savings
in document production costs |
Potential minimal savings
in document production costs |
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Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
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Note: The state
fiscal year is July 1 through June 30.
For example, FY 2009 is July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009.
·
The
bill requires the use of the English language in the official records of, and
in the actions and proceedings of, state agencies and political
subdivisions. Although the direct
fiscal impact of the change is unclear, the bill would presumably have more
effect on agencies, boards, and commissions that deal regularly with
foreign-speaking clientele.
·
Based
on an LSC survey of state agencies, boards, and commissions conducted in
calendar year 2005, which covered expenses for FY 2003 and FY 2004, and
assuming that the same holds true today, it appears as though state entities do
not spend significant sums of money on foreign language or bilingual
materials. Thus, any savings derived
from ceasing their publication would most likely be minimal.
·
The
bill also requires that state spending for foreign language or bilingual
information be noted distinctly in whatever manner budgets are presented. On the state level, this could mean that
such information is presented as a line item, or as an earmark within a line
item, during the budget process.
Agencies, boards, and commissions might thus incur some small
administrative expenses for distinguishing these planned expenditures.
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LOCAL
GOVERNMENT |
FY 2008 |
FY 2009 |
FUTURE YEARS |
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Counties, Townships, and
Municipalities |
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Revenues |
- 0 - |
- 0 - |
- 0 - |
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Expenditures |
Potential negligible
increase in common pleas court expenses |
Potential negligible
increase in common pleas court expenses |
Potential negligible
increase in common pleas court expenses |
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Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
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Other Political
Subdivisions |
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Revenues |
- 0 - |
- 0 - |
- 0 - |
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Expenditures |
Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
Potential negligible
increase for revising budget formats |
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Note: For most local governments, the fiscal year is the calendar year. The school district fiscal year is July 1 through June 30.
·
The
prohibition on using foreign languages under the circumstances described in the
bill will have the most impact on those that serve areas with greater numbers
of non-English speaking residents.
·
Political
subdivisions might also incur some small new administrative costs for budgeting
and tracking expenses related to documents printed in foreign languages.
·
If
citizens opt to file actions in county common pleas courts under the authority
provided in the bill, there could be some additional costs for holding hearings
and related activities.
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Official proceedings and public meetings
The bill requires the use of
the English language in the official records of, and in the actions and
proceedings of, state agencies, boards, commissions, and political
subdivisions. However, the bill sets
out several exceptions in which this requirement does not apply. Please see the LSC bill analysis for more
detail on these exceptions. LSC assumes
that most state agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as political
subdivisions, conduct official business and record these activities in English. Prohibiting foreign languages in these
circumstances, then, would seem to have little, if any, fiscal effect.
Foreign language publications
The total amount the state
spends on producing foreign language documents is difficult to track in state
budget records. However, based on an
LSC survey of state agencies, boards, and commissions conducted in 2005, it
appears as though they do not spend significant sums of money on foreign
language or bilingual materials.
Although the response rate was very low – only 18 agencies responded – 13
agencies indicated that they did not spend any money on documents printed in
foreign languages during the FY 2003-FY 2004 period. Of the five other agencies that responded, it was not clear
whether the foreign language matter that they printed was required under
federal or state law, was related to public health, safety, and welfare, or
would otherwise be exempted under the bill.
Budgeting procedures
The bill requires state
agencies, boards, commissions, and political subdivisions to illustrate
expenditures for providing services in languages other than English. There could be some administrative costs
associated with tracking and delineating these specific expenses. For the state, this means that amounts spent
and set aside for foreign language publications might have to be presented as separate
line items or as earmarks within them.
Political subdivisions would also have to adapt their budgeting
procedures so that these actual and planned expenses would be presented
distinctly. Presumably, state and
political subdivisions could adapt their budget formats to meet this
requirement without significant additional cost.
County common pleas courts
Additionally, the bill
allows citizens to commence a mandamus action against a state agency or
political subdivision that orders the agency or political subdivision to comply
with the bill. There could be some
additional costs to county courts for the filing of such a mandamus and
subsequent court hearings.
LSC fiscal staff: Terry Steele, Budget Analyst