BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                    Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
          
                                          AB2684  (Bock)
          
          Hearing Date:8/21/00            Amended:8/14/00        
          Consultant: Anne Maitland           Policy Vote:Local Govt:  
          4-0                      
          ____________________________________________________________ 
          ___
          BILL SUMMARY: 
          
          AB 2684 allows local governments which reduce costs of two  
          mandates to receive an amount equal to 1/3 of the cost  
          savings in addition to the mandate reimbursement

                              Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
           
          Major Provisions        2000-01             2001-02               2002-03   
           Fund  
          
          SCO admin                         97                 49*              
                     50*           General 
          Allocations              unknown, potential increased reimbursements  
               Local
           Reimbursements     unknown, potential cost savings                     
                   General
          * may be offset by mandate cost savings
          
          STAFF COMMENTS:  
          
          Current law requires the State to reimburse local  
          governments for mandated increases in levels of local  
          service.  The Commission on State Mandates is responsible  
          for determining if legislation creates a reimbursable state  
          mandate and for specifying which local costs are eligible  
          to be reimbursed.

          AB 2684 requires the Controller to develop a Savings  
          Allocation Program.  Under this program, a local government  
          which identifies savings generated from implementing two  
          specified mandates is entitled to receive up to one-third  
          of the savings verified by the Controller in addition to  
          the mandate reimbursement.  Funding for this "Savings  
          Allocation Program" will be included in the annual claims  
          bill.











          The two mandates identified in AB 2684 are supportive  
          services for handicapped children and the child abduction  
          and recovery program.  In 1999-00 the State reimbursed  
          local governments $48.5 million for these two mandates.

          Local governments may appeal the Controller's decision  
          about cost savings to the Commission on State Mandates.

          This program sunsets 1/1/07.

          Staff notes that cost shifting between fiscal years may  
          result in the appearance of cost savings which are not  
          sustained over time.  If costs rise again, the State is  
          still liable for reimbursement even if locals had received  
          a Savings Allocation "bonus" for earlier savings.