OCR Text |
Show IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS CITIZEN'S STATE INITIATIVE NUMBER It prohibits the Legislature from reducing funding levels of programs also receiving money from the Fund or the Endowment It requires the tax for radioactive waste disposal or reprocessing to be paid monthly rather than quarterly Potential Conflicts with the United States Constitution or Utah Constitution A limited review of this Initiative raises the following potential conflicts with the United States Constitution or Utah Constitution: (1) the three-yea- r lobbying prohibition may conflict with the freedom of speech provision of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; (2) empowenng the Endowment Authority to appropriate Endowment money may improperly delegate legislative authority in violation of Article V, Section 1 of the Utah Constitution; and (3) to the extent that this Initiative restricts the Legislature from making appropriations or reducing funding levels of programs, it may conflict with the Legislature's constitutional power to appropriate state funds state-funde- d Fiscal Impact The revenue estimates described in this fiscal analysis depend on the continued viability of the radioactive waste disposal and storage industry in Utah. The ability of the industry to continue operations at present levels may be affected by the fee, tax, and regulatory changes made by this Initiative The Legislative Fiscal Analyst estimates that if waste volumes continue at current levels, tax revenues from radioactive waste that would be used for education and for the homeless and (continued) 1 care fee would continue until $100,000,000 is accumulated, when the requirement to pay the fee ends The state General Fund will lose approximately $918,000 annually from radioactive waste taxes that under this Initiative will now go to education and to the homeless and impoverished. The required independent testing and oversight is estimated to cost $292,500 annually from the state General Fund. A one time appropnation of $100,000 from the radioactive waste tax revenues will be made to the Utah State Tax Commission with no provision for reimbursement of ongoing costs of collections Estimated annual costs for required meetings of the Fund Board and e Endowment Authority are $15,300 A expenditure of $80,400 from radioactive waste tax revenues will be needed to develop six required administrative rules It is assumed that local entities will accept the same administrative rules that are created by the Fund Board and Endowment Authority and will not require additional funds for their required rulemaking one-tim- Effective Date Citizen's State Initiative Number January 1, 2003 1 takes effect impovenshed could be approximately $208,000,000 annually The estimated annual volume of radioactive waste is based on records submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality Estimated revenue for impact reduction and community and economic development in Tooeie County is $13,850,000. The fee generated for perpetual care and closure of the disposal site is estimated to be $13,850,000 annually That annual perpetual 43 |