HCS HB 381 -- DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FEE OFFICES

SPONSOR:  Jones, 89 (Silvey)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 12 to 0.

This substitute requires the Department of Revenue to award fee
office contracts by considering the best interests of the state.
The department must ensure that entities capable of reducing
customer wait times to 30 minutes or less are awarded contracts.
Contracts will be awarded first to not-for-profit organizations
and then to municipalities, counties, and fire protection
districts.  No individual or for-profit organization will be
awarded a contract unless there are no priority-status entities
available.  No employee under a fee service contract can receive
more than $100,000 per year for his or her services.  The
department will provide assistance to new fee office contract
holders, and the State Auditor may audit fee offices in the same
manner as state agencies.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will end the patronage
system in the awarding of fee office contracts.  Governor Nixon
has started this new process by executive order, but putting it
into statute is desirable.  Public sector and nonprofit
organizations should be given priority so that fee office
revenues will be used to help local communities.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Silvey.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that a competitive
bidding process and granting preference to public and nonprofit
organizations for fee office contracts is very desirable.  The
department does not advocate a mandate for on-line renewal of
licenses at all fee offices.

Testifying on the bill was Department of Revenue.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am