FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
New
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
A New Program,A New Fund
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The bill establishes a new permit for wildlife rehabilitators and a new certification, enforcement and education program for the Division of Natural Resources. The projected revenue from permit fees will be substantially less than the projected implementation cost for the new program. The net fiscal impact of the bill will be that the Division will be required to annually absorb $50,338 of additional costs at a time when its human and financial resources are already under stress.
Cost Calculations:
Average cost per hour for law enforcement officer = $24.31
Officers required to enforce bill provisions = 6
Enforcement hours required weekly = 4
Total estimated law enforcement cost = $24.31 X 6 X 2 X 52 = $30,338
Estimated cost for DNR administration (enforcement, permits, records) = $20,000
Revenue Calculations:
First year revenue = 50 Master Class applicants X $25 = $1,250
Thereafter (because no renewal schedule is specified) = $0
The DNR’s major concerns with the bill are (1) that it will create a new, largely unfunded program that will require substantial agency time and money to administer and (2) that it will reduce the participation of volunteers in the wildlife rehabilitation effort. Successful rehabilitation of injured wildlife is more likely when animals are transported quickly to rehabilitation facilities. Because the bill would require a permit for simple transportation of wildlife and most volunteers probably would not endure the time and cost of securing permits, the DNR contends that the bill will likely result in an overall reduction of success for wildlife rehabilitation efforts.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2005
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2006
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
50,338 |
50,338 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
50,338 |
50,338 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
1,250 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Cost Calculations:
Average cost per hour for law enforcement officer = $24.31
Officers required to enforce bill provisions = 6
Enforcement hours required weekly = 4
Total estimated law enforcement cost = $24.31 X 6 X 2 X 52 = $30,338
Estimated cost for DNR administration (enforcement, permits, records) = $20,000
Revenue Calculations:
First year revenue = 50 Master Class applicants X $25 = $1,250
Thereafter (because no renewal schedule is specified) = $0
Memorandum
The DNR’s major concerns with the bill are (1) that it will create a new, largely unfunded program that will require substantial agency time and money to administer and (2) that it will reduce the participation of volunteers in the wildlife rehabilitation effort. Successful rehabilitation of injured wildlife is more likely when animals are transported quickly to rehabilitation facilities. Because the bill would require a permit for simple transportation of wildlife and most volunteers probably would not endure the time and cost of securing permits, the DNR contends that the bill will likely result in an overall reduction of success for wildlife rehabilitation efforts.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Keith Wilson
Email Address: kwilson@dnr.state.wv.us