(a) Every bill and resolution introduced in the General Assembly proposing any change in the law that could increase or decrease expenditures or revenues of a unit of local government shall have attached to it at the time of its consideration by the General Assembly a fiscal note prepared by the Fiscal Research Division. The fiscal note shall identify and estimate, for the first five fiscal years the proposed change would be in effect, all costs of the proposed legislation. If, after careful investigation, the Fiscal Research Division determines that no dollar estimate is possible, the note shall contain a statement to that effect, setting forth the reasons why no dollar amount can be given. No comment or opinion shall be included in the fiscal note with regard to the merits of the measure for which the note is prepared. However, technical and mechanical defects may be noted.

(b) The sponsor of each bill or resolution to which this section applies shall present a copy of the bill or resolution with the request for a fiscal note to the Fiscal Research Division. Upon receipt of the request and the copy of the bill or resolution, the Fiscal Research Division shall prepare the fiscal note as promptly as possible. The Fiscal Research Division shall prepare the fiscal note and transmit it to the sponsor within two weeks after the request is made, unless the sponsor agrees to an extension of time.

(c) This fiscal note shall be attached to the original of each proposed bill or resolution that is reported favorably by any committee of the General Assembly, but shall be separate from the bill or resolution and shall be clearly designated as a fiscal note. A fiscal note attached to a bill or resolution pursuant to this subsection is not a part of the bill or resolution and is not an expression of legislative intent proposed by the bill or resolution.

(d) If a committee of the General Assembly reports favorably a proposed bill or resolution with an amendment that proposes a change in the law that could increase or decrease expenditures or revenues of a unit of local government, the chair of the committee shall obtain from the Fiscal Research Division and attach to the amended bill or resolution a fiscal note as provided in this section.

(e) The Office of State Budget and Management, the Department of Revenue, the Department of the State Treasurer, the Department of the State Auditor, the State department most directly concerned, and, where appropriate, officials of units of local government, upon the request of Fiscal Research Division, shall assist the Fiscal Research Division in the preparation of the fiscal note.

(f) Copies of fiscal notes prepared by the Fiscal Research Division shall be furnished to the sponsor of the bill or resolution, the chairmen of the Local Government Committees, and the chairmen of the Appropriations, Finance, Rules, or the Senate Ways and Means Committees as appropriate. (1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1262, s. 5; 1995, c. 415, s. 6; 2000-140, s. 93.1(a); 2001-424, s. 12.2(b).)