126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1710 LR 2499(02)
An Act To Retain Call Centers in Maine
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium revenue increase - General Fund
Potential current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
FY 2013-14 FY 2014-15 Projections  FY 2015-16 Projections  FY 2016-17
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $35,133 $36,138 $37,184
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $0 $35,133 $36,138 $37,184
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The Department of Labor will require a General Fund appropriation totaling $35,133 in fiscal year 2014-15 to implement the requirements of this legislation.  Of this amount, a General Fund appropriation of $25,133 to the Bureau of Labor Standards will be required for a portion of the personal services cost for one Labor and Safety Inspector position associated with enforcing the notification requirements and collecting the fines assessed.  Additionally, a General Fund appropriation of $10,000 to the Workforce Research program will be required for the maintenance of a database of employers who have relocated a call center, or a facility or operating unit handling at least 30% of call volume within a call center, from the State to a foreign country.
Requiring those employers that have received state grants, state guaranteed loans or tax benefits and have relocated a call center, or one or more facilities or operating units within a call center handling at least 30% of the call center's total call volume, from the State to a foreign country to remit the unamortized value of the state grant, state guaranteed loan or tax benefit may result in increased General Fund or Other Special Revenue Funds revenue to the State beginning in fiscal year 2014-15.  Assessing a fine of $10,000 for each day that an employer fails to notify the State of its intention to relocate a call center may also increase General Fund revenues beginning in fiscal year 2014-15.  The amount of additional revenue to be received will depend on the number of fines assessed and the value of the grants, loans or tax benefits remitted.
The Department of Administrative and Financial Services anticipates additional costs associated with this bill.  These are not anticipated to be significant.