Review of BillTracker and Fiscal Notes
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BILL TRACKING & FISCAL NOTES Becka Johnson Poppe Senior Legislative Analyst Office of Planning & Budgeting January 6, 2016 AGENDA > Overview of OPB Roles > Legislative Process 101 > Bill Tracking & Bill Analysis > Fiscal Note Reminders OVERVIEW OF OPB ROLES Becka Johnson Poppe OFFICE OF PLANNING & BUDGETING (OPB) What is our role during session? > > > > Produce budget briefs Track relevant bills Coordinate fiscal notes Respond to information requests We may contact you to help fulfill these requests! LEGISLATIVE PROCESS 101 Becka Johnson Poppe LEGISLATIVE PROCESS & TERMS LEGISLATIVE PROCESS - OVERVIEW > > > > > > Bill introduction Public hearing Executive session Floor Opposite house Governor action critical for bill analysis BILL TRACKING & ANALYSIS Becka Johnson Poppe WHAT IS BILLTRACKER? > Captures and coordinates bill analysis across campus > Includes fields to gather fiscal note information > Allows users to follow bills they’ve been asked to assess > Coordinated effort between OPB, HR and F2 HOW DO WE TRACK BILLS? 1. OPB reviews bill intros on a daily basis 2. If we aren’t sure whether to track a bill, we email folks around the UW and ask 3. OPB adds bills to BillTracker and identifies assessors 4. BillTracker sends an email to each assessor 5. Assessors read the bills and provide analysis 6. OPB notifies assessors when a bill moves or changes TO ASSESS A BILL… Click the link at the bottom of the email from BillTracker TO ASSESS A BILL… Click the link at the bottom of the email from BillTracker TO ASSESS A BILL… You’ll be taken to a page that looks like this: TO ASSESS A BILL… Scroll down to see what others are saying TO ASSESS A BILL… Click on a name to open an assessment TO ASSESS A BILL… Please fill out these three fields TO ASSESS A BILL… PLEASE REMEMBER TO: > Be clear and concise > Provide specific amendments (if needed) > Respond as soon as possible TO SEE ALL OF YOUR BILLS… opb.washington.edu/billtracker/assessor TO SEE ALL OF YOUR BILLS… opb.washington.edu/billtracker/assessor TO SEE ALL THE BILLS WE’RE TRACKING opb.washington.edu/billtracker Questions? FISCAL NOTE REMINDERS Becka Johnson Poppe WHAT IS A FISCAL NOTE? An objective estimate of a bill’s fiscal impact • 6-year projection • Based on least expensive way to reasonably implement the bill • Tied to a specific version of a bill • Helps legislators evaluate a bill’s costs and merits • Informs legislative staff, journalists, lobbyists, etc. WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT FISCAL NOTES? They inform legislative decisions that impact the UW … Thus, we need to be responsive and accurate The tricky part is • We have less than 72 hours to respond • Fiscal notes cover a huge variety of topics … Thus, we need your help! THE FISCAL NOTE PROCESS OPB receives FN request from OFM < 72 Hours OPB adds FN to BillTracker, notifies assessors Assessors prepare FN in BillTracker OPB reviews FN for accuracy and completeness OPB adds FN to OFM’s system and submits it Occasionally OFM sends a revision request OFM distributes the final FN to legislators THE FISCAL NOTE PROCESS OPB receives FN request from OFM < 72 Hours OPB adds FN to BillTracker, notifies assessors Assessors prepare FN in BillTracker OPB reviews FN for accuracy and completeness OPB adds FN to OFM’s system and submits it Occasionally OFM sends a revision request OFM distributes the final FN to legislators TO RESPOND TO A FISCAL NOTE REQUEST… 1. Check the due date and time in the email notification TO RESPOND TO A FISCAL NOTE REQUEST… 1. Check the due date and time in the email notification 2. Read the bill 3. Coordinate your response with others (as needed) 4. Fill in the “Fiscal Analysis” fields in BillTracker PLEASE FILL OUT: • Summary: overview of how the bill impacts the UW One or more of the following areas of impact: • Cash Receipts: estimated tax or fee collections • Expenditures: estimated cost to implement bill • FTEs: detailed list of additional staff time needed (by job title and annual salary, not including benefits) • Capital: acquisition and construction costs PLEASE FILL OUT: TO RESPOND TO A FISCAL NOTE REQUEST… 1. Check the due date and time in the email notification 2. Read the bill 3. Coordinate your response with others (as needed) 4. Fill in the “Fiscal Analysis” fields in BillTracker 5. Save your work (at least every 3 hours) 6. When done, check “this is my final response” and hit “Submit Feedback” WHAT IF THERE ARE TOO MANY UNKNOWNS? You can say impact is “indeterminate” HOWEVER, we still need you to: • Explain why the impact is indeterminate AND • Either give a rough estimate or provide a range of scenarios TIPS & REMINDERS Fiscal notes must take priority over general bill analysis Write for a general audience, avoid jargon Identify and explain ALL assumptions Report the bill’s incremental impact over current law Report current dollars, don’t build in inflation Identify costs/receipts as one-time or on-going Consider implementation dates Separate cost of benefits from cost of salaries Respond! please RESOURCES RESOURCES RESOURCES RESOURCES RESOURCES Becka Johnson Poppe jbecka@uw.edu (206) 616-7203 Sharyl Morris sharylb@uw.edu 206.543.4679 Jed Bradley jedbrad@uw.edu 206.616.4684 Questions?
