HB 1981 Summary

• Requires fiscal impact statements for all proposed legislation that affects state or local funds directly or indirectly, including immediate and long-range costs, revenue/savings estimates, and itemized capital and operating expenditures.

• Prohibits legislative committees from holding hearings on any measure until a fiscal impact statement has been prepared by the Office of the Legislative Analyst.

• Assigns responsibility to the bill author to obtain the statement from the legislative analyst, who must request information from relevant agencies within a 24-hour response requirement.

• Exempts general appropriations bills, bills with specific appropriations amounts, and measures affecting retirement funds, but requires statements for programs using federal funds with state expenditures.

• Authorizes any legislator to motion for deferral of measures lacking required fiscal impact statements and allows motion to withdraw floor amendments that alter fiscal effect without attached statements; establishes misdemeanor penalties (up to 6 months imprisonment and $500 fine) for agencies breaching confidentiality of proposed measures.