State and Local Government Cost Estimate Act of 1981
PL 97-108 (H.R.1465), enacted 12/23/1981

95 STAT. 1510 
PUBLIC LAW 97-108—DEC. 23, 1981 
Public Law 97-108 
97th Congress 
Dec. 23, 1981 
[H.R. 1465] 
State and Local 
Government 
Cost Estimate 
Act of 1981. 
31 u s e 1301 
note. 
31 u s e 1353. 
"Local 
government." 
42 u s e 4201. 
"Significant bill 
or resolution." 
An Act 
To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget 
Office, for every significant bill or resolution reported in the House or the Senate, 
to prepare and submit an estimate of the cost which would be incurred by State 
and local governments in carrying out or complying with such bill or resolution. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be 
cited as the "State and Local Government Cost Estimate Act of 1981". 
SEC. 2. (a) Section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a)" before "The"; 
(2) by striking out "and" after the semicolon in clause (1) of 
subsection (a) (as redesignated by clause (1) of this subsection); 
(3) by inserting after clause (1) the following new clause: 
"(2) an estimate of the cost which would be incurred by State 
and local governments in carrying out or complying with any 
significant bill or resolution in the fiscal year in which it is to 
become effective and in each of the four fiscal years following 
such fiscal year, together with the basis for each such estimate; 
and"; 
(4) by redesignating clause (2) of such subsection as clause (3); 
(5) by striking out "(1)" in clause (3) of subsection (a) (as 
designated by clauses (1) and (4) of this subsection) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "(1) and (2)"; 
(6) by striking out "estimate" each place it appears in clause (3) 
of subsection (a) and in the last sentence of such subsection, and 
inserting in lieu thereof "estimates"; and 
(7) by inserting at the end thereof the following new 
subsections: 
"(b) For purposes of subsection (a)(2), the term 'local government' 
has the same meaning as in section 103 of the Intergovernmental 
Cooperation Act of 1968. 
"(c) For purposes of subsection (a)(2), the term 'significant bill or 
resolution' is defined as any bill or resolution which in the judgment 
of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office is likely to result in 
an annual cost to State and local governments of $200,000,000 or 
more, or is likely to have exceptional fiscal consequences for a 
geographic region or a particular level of government.". 
PUBLIC LAW 97-108—DEC. 23, 1981 
95 STAT. 1511 
(b) The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with 3i use 1353 
respect to bills or resolutions reported by committees of the House of "°*® 
Representatives and the Senate after September 30,1982. 
SEC. 3. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may Appropriation 
be necessary to carry out this Act. 
31 uscTlsT' 
SEC. 4. The authorization granted under the terms of this Act shall note. 
expire on September 30,1987. 
Expiration date. 
'' 
*' 
' 
31 use 1353 
Approved December 23, 1981. 
note. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1465 (S. 43): 
HOUSE REPORT No. 97-353 (Comm. on Rules). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 97-142 (Comm. on Governmental Affairs) and No. 97-174 
(Oomm. on the Budget) accompanying S. 43. 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 127 (1981): 
Dec. 8, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 16, considered and passed Senate, in lieu of S. 43. 
89-194 0-82 
97:QL3