FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 0797H.01I Bill No.: HB 121 Subject: Children and Minors; Public Health Type: Original Date: February 2, 2025
Bill Summary: This proposal establishes the "Safe Place for Newborns Fund" for the installation of newborn safety incubators.
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND FUND AFFECTED FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 General $0 to (Unknown) $0 to (Unknown) $0 to (Unknown)
Total Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue* $0 to (Unknown) $0 to (Unknown) $0 to (Unknown) *Oversight is uncertain how much would be appropriated and transferred into the Safe Place for Newborns Fund, if any, but notes the total amount available to the fund from state sources under such a match program shall be up to $10,000 for each newborn safety incubator installed. Therefore, Oversight assumes the fiscal impact of “$0 to Unknown” for the transfer from General Revenue is not likely to exceed the $250,000 threshold annually.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS FUND AFFECTED FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 Safe Place for Newborns Fund* $0 $0 $0
Total Estimated Net Effect on Other State Funds $0 $0 $0 *Oversight assumes funds in the Safe Place for Newborns Fund will be disbursed in the same year it is received. Therefore, Oversight will reflect the income and expenses to the fund as “$0 to Unknown” and net to $0. Because the total amount available to the fund from state sources and donations under such a match program shall be up to $10,000 for each newborn safety incubator installed, Oversight assumes income and expenses of under $250,000 annually.
Numbers within parentheses: () indicate costs or losses. L.R. No. 0797H.01I Bill No. HB 121 Page 2 of 5 February 2, 2025
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS FUND AFFECTED FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds $0 $0 $0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) FUND AFFECTED FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
Total Estimated Net Effect on FTE 0 0 0
☐ Estimated Net Effect (expenditures or reduced revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
☐ Estimated Net Effect (savings or increased revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS FUND AFFECTED FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 Local Government Entities* $0 to Unknown $0 to Unknown $0 to Unknown
Local Government $0 to Unknown $0 to Unknown $0 to Unknown *Because the total amount available to the fund from state sources and donations under such a match program shall be up to $10,000 for each newborn safety incubator installed, Oversight assumes income to local government entities of under $250,000 annually.
KP:LR:OD L.R. No. 0797H.01I Bill No. HB 121 Page 3 of 5 February 2, 2025
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
§ 210.950 - "Safe Place for Newborns Fund"
Officials from the Fruitland Area Fire Protection District state that, although this legislation would have no serious fiscal impact to their organization, it could assist agencies to offset the costs involved with installation of these devices and get more of these lifesaving devices in the State.
Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight assumes the Fruitland Area Fire Protection District will not require any additional staff or resources and will reflect no fiscal impact to the Fruitland Area Fire Protection District for fiscal note purposes.
Officials from the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Department of Social Services, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, the Branson Police Department, the Kansas City Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department, each assume the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their respective organizations. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for these agencies.
Oversight only reflects the responses received from state agencies and political subdivisions; however, other sheriffs’ departments, police departments, fire protection districts, emergency services agencies and hospitals were requested to respond to this proposed legislation but did not. A listing of political subdivisions included in the Missouri Legislative Information System (MOLIS) database is available upon request.
Oversight notes that, according to an article by Anna Claire Vollers published in the Missouri Independent on February 28, 2024:
In Missouri, a newborn girl was anonymously surrendered to a drop-off box two weeks ago [February 2024] at a Mehlville Fire Protection District station in St. Louis County… It was the first time a drop-off box was used in Missouri since a law legalizing them was passed in 2021.
The initial cost of a baby box is about $20,000. That price includes the leasing of the box from Safe Haven Baby Boxes, which owns the patent and contracts with a manufacturer, as well as costs for installation, electrical and alarm system hookups, and staff training on how to use it. There’s also a $500 annual service fee, paid to Safe Haven Baby Boxes, to ensure the box continues working properly.
KP:LR:OD L.R. No. 0797H.01I Bill No. HB 121 Page 4 of 5 February 2, 2025
Oversight is uncertain how much would be appropriated and transferred into the Safe Place for Newborns Fund, if any, but notes the total amount available to the fund from state sources under such a match program shall be up to ten thousand dollars for each newborn safety incubator installed. Oversight assumes a fiscal impact of “$0 to Unknown” for the transfer from General Revenue and assumes the transfer is not likely to exceed the $250,000 threshold annually.
Oversight assumes funds in the Safe Place for Newborns Fund will be disbursed in the same year it is received. Therefore, Oversight will reflect the income and expenses to the fund as “$0 to Unknown” and net to $0.
FISCAL IMPACT – State Government FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 (10 Mo.)
GENERAL REVENUE
Transfer Out – to the Safe Place for $0 to $0 to $0 to Newborns Fund (§ 210.950) p. 3 (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON $0 to $0 to $0 to GENERAL REVENUE (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
SAFE PLACE FOR NEWBORNS FUND
Transfer In - (§ 210.950) From General $0 to $0 to $0 to Revenue Fund p. 3 Unknown Unknown Unknown
Income – (§ 210.950) From Gifts, $0 to $0 to $0 to Contributions, Grants, Bequests, etc. p. 3 Unknown Unknown Unknown
Transfer Out - (§ 210.950) Disbursed to $0 to $0 to $0 to entities that install incubators p. 3 (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON THE SAFE PLACE FOR NEWBORNS FUND $0 $0 $0
FISCAL IMPACT – Local Government FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 (10 Mo.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
KP:LR:OD L.R. No. 0797H.01I Bill No. HB 121 Page 5 of 5 February 2, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT – Local Government FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 (10 Mo.)
Transfer In - (§ 210.950) Reimbursement from the Safe Place for Newborns Fund to $0 to $0 to $0 to install incubators p. 3 Unknown Unknown Unknown
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO LOCAL $0 to $0 to $0 to GOVERNMENT ENTITIES Unknown Unknown Unknown
FISCAL IMPACT – Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
FISCAL DESCRIPTION
The bill creates the "Safe Place for Newborns Fund" and provides that the state of Missouri will match moneys from the General Revenue Fund, in the amount of up to $10,000 per installation of newborn safety incubators. (§ 210.950)
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Health and Senior Services Department of Social Services Office of the State Treasurer Phelps County Sheriff’s Department Branson Police Department Kansas City Police Department St. Louis County Police Department Fruitland Area Fire Protection District
Julie Morff Jessica Harris Director Assistant Director February 2, 2025 February 2, 2025
KP:LR:OD
Statutes affected: