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About the LFO
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Director: Joyce Bigbee |
Address:
Alabama State House
11 South Union Street,
Room 620
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3525 |
Telephone:
(334) 242-7950
Fax:
(334) 242-4708
http://www.lfo.state.al.us/ |
STATUTORY CREATION
The Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO) was established as a legislative agency
by Act 1975-108 (Title 29, Chapter 5 of the Code of Alabama 1975).
MISSION
The LFO was established for the purpose of providing independent, accurate
and objective fiscal information to members of the Alabama House and Senate.
GOVERNANCE
The operation of the LFO is supervised by a ten-member continuing
legislative committee, the Joint Fiscal Committee. The Joint Fiscal
Committee consists of the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, three
members of the House Ways and Means Committee selected by the Chair of that
committee, the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee, three
members of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee selected by the Chair
of that committee, the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House.
Joint Fiscal Committee members’ terms are for the quadrennium for which they
were elected to the Legislature and until their successors have been elected
and qualified. The Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee serves
as chair of the Joint Fiscal Committee.
The Joint Fiscal Committee selects and appoints the Director of the Fiscal
Office who is responsible for the supervision, direction and control of the
office. The Director of the Fiscal Office is also known as the Legislative
Fiscal Officer.
DUTIES
The responsibilities and duties of the LFO include:
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serving as primary staff for the House Ways and Means Committees and
Senate Finance and Taxation Committees;
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fiscal analysis of legislative proposals and preparation of fiscal notes
on bills which are introduced;
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analysis for the legislature of executive budget, tax and revenue
proposals;
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drafting of legislative budget, tax and revenue proposals and related
legislation;
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tracking of budget, tax and revenue legislation;
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analysis of agency budgets and budget requests;
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monitoring of state tax and other receipts;
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revenue estimating;
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certification (in conjunction with a separate certification by the
Director of Finance) by the Legislative Fiscal Officer of projected growth
in the Education Trust Fund by the third legislative day of each regular
session (as required by Act 2000-732- the “National Average for Teachers’
Salaries” Act);
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special evaluations of programs or agencies as designated by the Joint
Fiscal Committee;
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general research upon request of legislative committees or individual
legislators;
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publication and distribution of materials to communicate fiscal
information to legislators and the public.
USING THE FISCAL OFFICE
Senators who wish to make a request of the Fiscal Office should contact the
Senate Fiscal Officer (Norris Green). House members should contact the House
Fiscal Officer (Frank Gitschier). Legislators may also direct their requests
to the Director (Joyce Bigbee) or to the Assistant Director (Deborah
Kennedy). They may be contacted by telephone at (334) 242-7950.
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