121st Maine Legislature
		Office of Fiscal and Program Review
		LD 73
		An Act to Make the Children's Ombudsman Program an Independent Office
		LR 0711(01)
		Fiscal Note for Original Bill
		Sponsor: Rep. Laverriere-Boucher
		Committee: Health and Human Services
		Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
	Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Removing the ombudsman program from the Executive Department will require General Fund deappropriations of ($128,480) in fiscal year 2003-04 and ($131,692) in fiscal year 2004-05.  As currently drafted, this bill does not identify specifically where the corresponding appropriation will be directed to administer the program. Once this is determined, and depending on the administering entity selected, these amounts will need to be appropriated again.  If the administering entity is not an existing state agency additional cost may be incurred for the overhead required to establish a new entity.